The effector SJP3 interferes with pistil development by sustaining SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE 3 expression in jujube.

Jujube witches' broom (JWB) is a phytoplasma disease that causes severe damage to jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) crops worldwide. Diseased jujube plants show enhanced vegetative growth after floral reversion, including leafy flower structures (phyllody) and the fourth whorl converting into a vegetative shoot. In previous research, secreted JWB protein 3 (SJP3) was identified as an inducer of phyllody. However, the molecular mechanisms of SJP3-mediated pistil reversion remain unknown. Here, the effector SJP3 was found to interact with the MADS-box protein SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE 3 (ZjSVP3). ZjSVP3 was expressed in young leaves and during the initial flower bud differentiation of healthy jujube-bearing shoots but was constitutively expressed in JWB phytoplasma-infected flowers until the later stage of floral development. The SJP3 effector showed the same expression pattern in the diseased buds and promoted ZjSVP3 accumulation in SJP3 transgenic jujube calli. The N-terminal domains of ZjSVP3 contributed to its escape from protein degradation in the presence of SJP3. Heterologous expression of ZjSVP3 in Nicotiana benthamiana produced typical pistil abnormalities, including trichome-enriched style and stem-like structures within the leaf-like ovary, which were consistent with those in the mildly malformed lines overexpressing SJP3. Furthermore, ectopic expression of ZjSVP3 directly bound to the zinc finger protein 8 (ZjZFP8) and MADS-box gene SHATTERPROOF 1 (ZjSHP1) promoters to regulate their expression, resulting in abnormal pistil development. Overall, effector SJP3-mediated derepression of ZjSVP3 sustained its expression to interfere with pistil development, providing insight into the mechanisms of pistil reversion caused by JWB phytoplasma in specific perennial woody plant species.

The crotonylated and succinylated proteins of jujube involved in phytoplasma-stress responses.

BACKGROUND: Protein posttranslational modifications (PTMs) are fast and early responses to environmental changes, including pathogen infection. Jujube witches' broom (JWB) is a phytoplasma disease causing great economic loss in jujube production. After phytoplasma infection, the transcriptional, translational, and metabolic levels in jujube were activated, enabling it to survive during phytoplasma invasion. However, no study has yet reported on PTMs in jujube. Lysine crotonylation (Kcr) and lysine succinylation (Ksu) have been popular studies in recent years and their function in plant phytoplasma-stress responses remains unclear. RESULTS: Here, 1656 crotonylated and 282 succinylated jujube proteins were first identified under phytoplasma-stress, of which 198 were simultaneously crotonylated and succinylated. Comparative analysis revealed that 656 proteins, 137 crotonylated and 43 succinylated proteins in jujube were regulated by phytoplasma infection, suggesting that Kcr was more universal than Ksu. Kcr differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were related to ribosomes, photosynthetic and carbon metabolism, while Ksu DEPs were mainly involved in carbon metabolism, the TCA cycle and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. The crosstalk network among proteome, crotonylome and succinylome showed that DEPs related to ribosomal, peroxidases and glutathione redox were enriched. Among them, ZjPOD51 and ZjPHGPX2 significantly increased at the protein and Kcr level under phytoplasma-stress. Notably, 7 Kcr sites were identified in ZjPHGPX2, a unique antioxidant enzyme. After inhibitor nicotinamide (NAM) treatment, GPX enzyme activity in jujube seedlings was reduced. Further, site-directed mutagenesis of key Kcr modification sites K130 and/or K135 in ZjPHGPX2 significantly reduced its activity. CONCLUSIONS: This study firstly provided large-scale datasets of Kcr and Ksu in phytoplasma-infected jujube and revealed that Kcr modification in ZjPHGPX2 positively regulates its activity.

Inhibition of Glial Activation and Subsequent Reduction in White Matter Damage through Supplementation with a Combined Extract of Wheat Bran, Citrus Peel, and Jujube in a Rat Model of Vascular Dementia.

Vascular dementia (VaD) is the second most common type of dementia after Alzheimer's disease. In our previous studies, we showed that wheat bran extract (WBE) reduced white matter damage in a rat VaD model and improved memory in a human clinical trial. However, starch gelatinization made the large-scale preparation of WBE difficult. To simplify the manufacturing process and increase efficacy, we attempted to find a decoction containing an optimum ratio of wheat bran, sliced citrus peel, and sliced jujube (WCJ). To find an optimal ratio, the cell survival of C6 (rat glioma) cultured under hypoxic conditions (1% O2) was measured, and apoptosis was assessed. To confirm the efficacies of the optimized WCJ for VaD, pupillary light reflex, white matter damage, and the activation of astrocytes and microglia were assessed in a rat model of bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) causing chronic hypoperfusion. Using a combination of both searching the literature and cell survival experiments, we chose 6:2:1 as the optimal ratio of wheat bran to sliced citrus peel to sliced jujube to prepare WCJ. We showed that phytic acid contained only in wheat bran can be used as an indicator component for the quality control of WCJ. We observed in vitro that the WCJ treatment improved cell survival by reducing apoptosis through an increase in the Bcl-2/Bax ratio. In the BCCAO experiments, the WCJ-supplemented diet prevented astrocytic and microglial activation, mitigated myelin damage in the corpus callosum and optic tract, and, consequently, improved pupillary light reflex at dosages over 100 mg/kg/day. The results suggest that the consumption of WCJ can prevent VaD by reducing white matter damage, and WCJ can be developed as a safe, herbal medicine to prevent VaD.

The 'Candidatus phytoplasma ziziphi' effectors SJP1 and SJP2 destabilise the bifunctional regulator ZjTCP7 to modulate floral transition and shoot branching.

Phytoplasmic SAP11 effectors alter host plant architecture and flowering time. However, the exact mechanisms have yet to be elucidated. Two SAP11-like effectors, SJP1 and SJP2, from 'Candidatus Phytoplasma ziziphi' induce shoot branching proliferation. Here, the transcription factor ZjTCP7 was identified as a central target of these two effectors to regulate floral transition and shoot branching. Ectopic expression of ZjTCP7 resulted in enhanced bolting and earlier flowering than did the control. Interaction and expression assays demonstrated that ZjTCP7 interacted with the ZjFT-ZjFD module, thereby enhancing the ability of these genes to directly bind to the ZjAP1 promoter. The effectors SJP1 and SJP2 unravelled the florigen activation complex by specifically destabilising ZjTCP7 and ZjFD to delay floral initiation. Moreover, the shoot branching of the ZjTCP7-SRDX transgenic Arabidopsis lines were comparable to those of the SJP1/2 lines, suggesting the involvement of ZjTCP7 in the regulation of shoot branching. ZjTCP7 interacted with the branching repressor ZjBRC1 to enhance suppression of the auxin efflux carrier ZjPIN3 expression. ZjTCP7 also directly bound to and upregulated the auxin biosynthesis gene ZjYUCCA2, thereby promoting auxin accumulation. Our findings confirm that ZjTCP7 serves as a bifunctional regulator destabilised by the effectors SJP1 and SJP2 to modulate plant development.

The effector PHYL1JWB from Candidatus Phytoplasma ziziphi induces abnormal floral development by destabilising flower development proteins.

Phytoplasmas can induce complex and substantial phenotypic changes in their hosts in ways that favour their colonisation, but the mechanisms underlying these changes remain largely unknown. Jujube witches' broom (JWB) disease is a typical phytoplasma disease causing great economic loss in Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.). Here, we reported an effector, PHYL1JWB from Candidatus Phytoplasma ziziphi, which implicated in inducing abnormal floral organogenesis. Utilising a combination of in vivo and in vitro methods, we investigated the influence of PHYL1JWB on the proteins associated with floral development. Our findings reveal that PHYL1JWB facilitates the proteasome-mediated degradation of essential flower morphogenetic regulators, including AP1, SEP1, SEP2, SEP3, SEP4, CAL, and AGL6, through a distinctive pathway that is dependent on the activity of the 26S proteasome, thus obviating the requirement for lysine ubiquitination of the substrates. Further, the Y2H analysis showed that the leucine at position 75th in second α helix of PHYL1JWB is fundamental for the interactions of PHYL1JWB with AP1 and SEP1-4 in jujube and Arabidopsis. Our research carry profound implications for elucidating the contribution of PHYL1JWB to the aberrant floral development in diseased jujube, and help to establish a robust theoretical underpinning for the prophylaxis and therapy of JWB disease.

Quantitative analysis of biochemical characteristics and anti-cancer properties in MCF-7 breast cancer cell line: a comparative study between Ziziphus jujube honey and commercial honey.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence that honey has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer effects. This study aims to assess and contrast the cytotoxic, anti-metastatic, and apoptotic effects of Ziziphus jujube honey and commercial honey on MCF7 cells. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two honey samples, Ziziphus jujube (JH) and commercial honey (CH), were categorized into high and low groups based on their phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, and diastase activity (PAD score). The viability and migration ability of MCF-7 cells treated with JH and CH were evaluated. Also, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) was performed to assess the effect of the two honey samples on the expression of Bax, p53, p21 and Bcl-2 genes. JH had a total phenolic content of 606.4 ± 0.1 µg gallic acid equivalent/mg, while CH had a value of 112.1 ± 0.09 µg gallic acid equivalent/mg. The total antioxidant capacity of the two samples was compared. It was 203.5 ± 10.5µM/l in JH and 4.6 ± 10.5 µM/l in CH. In addition, JH had a diastatic activity of 524.1 ± 0.25 U/l, while CH had a value of 209.7 ± 0.56 U/l. According to the results, JH had a high PAD value, while CH had a low PAD value. Cell viability was measured using the results of the MTT assay. The results showed that JH inhibited the growth of MCF-7 cells more strongly (IC50 of 170 ± 4.2 µg/ml) than CH (IC50 of 385.3 ± 4.5 µg/l). The scratch assay showed that treatment with JH decreased the migration rate of MCF-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner compared to the CH and control groups. In addition, the results of q-PCR analysis showed significant upregulation of Bax, p53 and p21 genes and downregulation of Bcl-2 gene in the JH-treated group compared to the CH and control groups. CONCLUSION: These results showed that honey with an increased content of phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacity, and diastatic activity has anticancer properties by effectively suppressing tumor development. This suppression occurs via several mechanisms, including suppression of proliferation and metastasis, and promotion of apoptosis.

Fungicidal efficiency of DBD cold plasma against Aspergillus niger on dried jujube.

This study investigated the fungicidal efficiency and mechanism of action of dielectric barrier discharge cold atmosphere plasma (DBD-CAP) in inactivating Aspergillus niger (A. niger) spores. The disinfection efficacy and quality of dried jujube used as the processing application object were also studied. The results indicated that the Weibull + Tail model performed better for spore inactivation curves at different voltages among various treatment times, and the spore cells were reduced by 4.05 log (cfu/mL) in spores suspension at 70 kV after 15 min of treatment. This disinfection impact was further supported by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images, which showed that the integrity of the cell membrane was damaged, and the intracellular content leaked out after DBD-CAP treatment. Elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during the treatment increased the relative conductivity of cells, and leakage of nucleic acids and proteins further supported the disinfection impact. Additionally, the growth and toxicity of surviving A. niger spores after treatment were also greatly reduced. When DBD-CAP was applied to disinfecting dried jujube, the spore number exhibited a 2.67 log cfu/g reduction after treatment without significant damage observed onto the quality (P > 0.05).

Effect of jujube pulp on acid- and rennet-induced coagulation properties of milk.

Milk coagulation is an important step in the production of fermented dairy products such as yogurt and cheese. Jujube is gaining popularity and acceptance as a food ingredient. In China, jujube yogurt is popular among consumers. However, there is limited information on the effect of jujube on acid- and rennet-induced coagulation properties of milk. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of jujube pulp at different concentrations on acid- and rennet-induced coagulation kinetics of milk and the microstructure of acid- and rennet-induced gels. During acid-induced coagulation, with increasing jujube pulp concentration, the initial pH value decreased; however, the final pH value increased. The initial elasticity index (EI) value increased, and the time point at which the mean square displacement curves lost the linear trend advanced. The sample with 10% jujube pulp had the densest structure and highest EI value. During rennet-induced coagulation, with increasing jujube pulp concentration, the production rate and amount of caseinomacropeptide decreased, and the final EI value increased. Protein aggregates in rennet-induced gels became rough, and the sample with 20% jujube pulp had the highest EI value. This study provides a new perspective and understanding of the application of jujube in fermented dairy products.

YOLOv7-Branch: A Jujube Leaf Branch Detection Model for Agricultural Robot.

The intelligent harvesting technology for jujube leaf branches presents a novel avenue for enhancing both the quantity and quality of jujube leaf tea, whereas the precise detection technology for jujube leaf branches emerges as a pivotal factor constraining its development. The precise identification and localization of jujube leaf branches using real-time object detection technology are crucial steps toward achieving intelligent harvesting. When integrated into real-world scenarios, issues such as the background noise introduced by tags, occlusions, and variations in jujube leaf morphology constrain the accuracy of detection and the precision of localization. To address these issues, we describe a jujube leaf branch object detection network based on YOLOv7. First, the Polarized Self-Attention module is embedded into the convolutional layer, and the Gather-Excite module is embedded into the concat layer to incorporate spatial information, thus achieving the suppression of irrelevant information such as background noise. Second, we incorporate implicit knowledge into the Efficient Decoupled Head and replace the original detection head, enhancing the network's capability to extract deep features. Third, to address the issue of imbalanced jujube leaf samples, we employ Focal-EIoU as the bounding box loss function to expedite the regression prediction and enhance the localization accuracy of the model's bounding boxes. Experiments show that the precision of our model is 85%, which is increased by 3.5% compared to that of YOLOv7-tiny. The mAP@0.5 value is 83.7%. Our model's recognition rate, recall and mean average precision are superior to those of other models. Our method could provide technical support for yield estimation in the intelligent management of jujube orchards.

Functional Nutrients and Jujube-Based Processed Products in Ziziphus jujuba.

Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) is the first tree species in China, with a long history and abundant yield. However, fresh jujubes have a short shelf-life and are not resistant to storage. Therefore, more and more processed jujube products are being studied. These processed products can extend the shelf-life of jujubes and attract widespread attention for their rich functional nutrients. This review summarized changes in nutrients of fresh jujube and processed products and the research progress of different preparation methods of jujubes. Meanwhile, the pharmacological effects of bioactive components in jujube-based products were concluded. Jujube and its processed products contain rich polysaccharides, vitamin C, and other functional nutrients, which are beneficial to humans. As the initial processing method for jujubes, vacuum freezing or microwave drying have become the most commonly used and efficient drying methods. Additionally, processed jujube products cannot be separated from the maximum retention of nutrients and innovation of flavor. Fermentation is the main deep-processing method with broad development potential. In the future, chemical components and toxicological evaluation need to be combined with research to bring consumers higher quality functional jujube products and ensure the sustainable development of the jujube industry.

Dual Enzymolysis Assisted by Acrylate or Phosphate Grafting: Influences on the Structural and Functional Properties of Jujube Residue Dietary Fiber.

Jujube residue is an abundant and low-cost dietary fiber resource, but its relatively lower hydration and functional properties limit its utilization as an ingredient of functional food. Thus, cellulase and hemicellulase hydrolysis, enzymatic hydrolysis assisted by phosphate grafting (EPG), and enzymatic hydrolysis assisted by acrylate grafting (EAG) were used to improve the functional properties of jujube residue dietary fiber (JRDF) in this study. The results evidenced that these modifications all increased the porosity of the microstructure of JRDF and increased the soluble fiber content, surface area, and hydration properties, but reduced its brightness (p < 0.05). Moreover, JRDF modified by enzymolysis combined with acrylate grafting offered the highest extractable polyphenol content, oil, sodium cholate, and nitrite ion sorption abilities. Meanwhile, JRDF modified via enzymolysis assisted by phosphate grafting showed the highest soluble fiber content (23.53 g∙100 g-1), water-retention ability (12.84 g∙g-1), viscosity (9.37 cP), water-swelling volume (10.80 mL∙g-1), and sorption ability of copper (II) and lead (II) ions. Alternatively, JRDF modified with cellulase hydrolysis alone exhibited the highest glucose adsorption capacity (21.9 g∙100 g-1) at pH 7.0. These results indicate that EPG is an effective way to improve the hypolipidemic effects of JRDF, while EAG is a good choice to enhance its hydration and hypoglycemic properties.

Untargeted metabolomics analysis of probiotic jujube juice and its anti-obesity effects on high-fat-diet-induced obese mice.

BACKGROUND: Dietary intervention, including polyphenol consumption, is recognized as an effective strategy to prevent obesity. Although fermented jujube juice (FJJ) with lactic acid bacteria has been shown to be rich in polyphenols and have strong antioxidant properties, little is known about its anti-obesity properties. RESULTS: Untargeted metabolomics was employed to identify and analyze the differential metabolites between FJJ and raw jujube juice. A total of 431 metabolites belonging to diverse classes and with various functional active ingredients were quantitatively identified. The animal experiments results showed that FJJ administration for 13 weeks significantly inhibited high-fat-diet-induced body and epididymal adipose weight gain, and improved the serum lipid parameters in obese mice. Additionally, DNA-sequencing results revealed that FJJ treatment increased Akkermansia abundance in the gut and changed the composition of fecal microbiota by decreasing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio and Helicobacter pylori abundance. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that FJJ contributes to regulating lipid accumulation and gut microbiota composition in high-fat-diet-induced obese mice, which helps to prevent obesity. Hence, FJJ has the potential to be a beneficial beverage for controlling obesity. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Research Progress and Biosynthetic Mechanisms of Nutritional Compounds Obtained from Various Organs During the Developmental Stages of a Medicinal Plant (Chinese Jujube).

The fruit of the jujube tree is high in nutrients and has various health benefits. China is a major producer of jujube, and it is now cultivated all around the world. Numerous studies have demonstrated the nutritional value and potential health advantages of bioactive compounds found in the jujube tree. Furthermore, the jujube tree has a remarkable 7000-year agricultural history. The jujube plant has developed a rich gene pool, making it a valuable resource for germplasm. Different studies have focused on the developmental stages of jujube fruits to identify the optimal time for harvest and to assess the changes in their bioactive natural compounds or products during the process of development but the molecular mechanism underlying the production of bioactive natural products in Z. jujuba is still poorly understood. Moreover, the potential differential expressed genes (DEGs) identified as responsible for the synthesis of these compounds should be further functionally verified. It has been noticed that the contents of total flavonoids, total phenolic, and vitamin C increase significantly during the ripening process, while the contents of soluble sugars and organic acids decrease gradually. In this review, we have also scrutinized the challenges that hinder the utilization of jujube fruit resources and suggested potential areas for further research. As such, our review serves as a valuable resource for the future development of jujube-based nutritional compounds and the incorporation of their nutritional elements into the functional foods industry.

Jujube metabolome selection determined the edible properties acquired during domestication.

Plants supply both food and medicinal compounds, which are ascribed to diverse metabolites produced by plants. However, studies on domestication-driven changes in the metabolome and genetic basis of bioactive molecules in perennial fruit trees are generally lacking. Here, we conducted multidimensional analyses revealing a singular domestication event involving the genomic and metabolomic selection of jujube trees (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.). The genomic selection for domesticated genes was highly enriched in metabolic pathways, including carbohydrates and specialized metabolism. Domesticated metabolome profiling indicated that 187 metabolites exhibited significant divergence as a result of directional selection. Malic acid was directly selected during domestication, and the simultaneous selection of specialized metabolites, including triterpenes, consequently lead to edible properties. Cyclopeptide alkaloids (CPAs) were specifically targeted for the divergence between dry and fresh cultivars. We identified 1080 significantly associated loci for 986 metabolites. Among them, 15 triterpenes were directly selected at six major loci, allowing the identification of a homologous cluster containing seven 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclases (OSCs). An OSC gene was found to contribute to the reduction in the content of triterpenes during domestication. The complete pathway for synthesizing ursolic acid was dissected by integration of the metabolome and transcriptome. Additionally, an N-methyltransferase involved in the biosynthesis of CPA and responsible for inter-cultivar content variation was identified. The present study promotes our understanding of the selection process of the global metabolome subsequent to fruit tree domestication and facilitates the genetic manipulation of specialized metabolites to enhance their edible traits.

Anatomical observation and transcriptome analysis of branch-twisted mutations in Chinese jujube.

BACKGROUND: Plant organs grow in a certain direction and organ twisted growth, a rare and distinctive trait, is associated with internal structure changes and special genes. The twisted branch mutant of Chinese jujube jujube, an important fruit tree native to China and introduced to nearly 50 countries, provides new typical materials for exploration of plant twisted growth. RESULTS: In this study, the cytological characteristics and related genes of twisted branches in Chinese jujube were revealed by microscopy observation and transcriptome analysis. The unique coexistence of primary and secondary structures appeared in the twisted parts of branches, and special structures such as collateral bundle, cortical bundles, and internal phloem were formed. Ninety differentially expressed genes of 'Dongzao' and its twisted mutant were observed, in which ZjTBL43, ZjFLA11, ZjFLA12 and ZjIQD1 were selected as candidate genes. ZjTBL43 was homologous to AtTBL43 in Arabidopsis, which was involved in the synthesis and deposition of cellular secondary wall cellulose. The attbl43 mutant showed significant inflorescence stem bending growth. The transgenic lines of attbl43 with overexpression of ZjTBL43 were phenotypically normal.The branch twisted growth may be caused by mutations in ZjTBL43 in Chinese jujube. AtIQD10, AtFLA11 and AtFLA12 were homologous to ZjIQD1, ZjFLA11 and ZjFLA12, respectively. However, the phenotype of their function defect mutants was normal. CONCLUSION: In summary, these findings will provide new insights into the plant organ twisted growth and a reference for investigation of controlling mechanisms of plant growth direction.

The genome of Candidatus phytoplasma ziziphi provides insights into their biological characteristics.

Phytoplasmas are obligate cell wall-less prokaryotic bacteria that primarily multiply in plant phloem tissue. Jujube witches' broom (JWB) associated with phytoplasma is a destructive disease of jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.). Here we report the complete 'Candidatus Phytoplasma ziziphi' chromosome of strain Hebei-2018, which is a circular genome of 764,108-base pairs with 735 predicted CDS. Notably, extra 19,825 bp (from 621,995 to 641,819 bp) compared to the previously reported one complements the genes involved in glycolysis, such as pdhA, pdhB, pdhC, pdhD, ackA, pduL and LDH. The synonymous codon usage bias (CUB) patterns by using comparative genomics analysis among the 9 phytoplasmas were similar for most codons. The ENc-GC3s analysis among the 9 phytoplasmas showed a greater effect under the selection on the CUBs of phytoplasmas genes than mutation and other factors. The genome exhibited a strongly reduced ability in metabolic synthesis, while the genes encoding transporter systems were well developed. The genes involved in sec-dependent protein translocation system were also identified.The expressions of nine FtsHs encoding membrane associated ATP-dependent Zn proteases and Mn-SodA with redox capacity in the Ca. P. ziziphi was positively correlated with the phytoplasma concentration. Taken together, the genome will not only expand the number of phytoplasma species and provide some new information about Ca. P. ziziphi, but also contribute to exploring its pathogenic mechanism.

Mixed infections with new emerging viruses associated with jujube mosaic disease.

BACKGROUND: Jujube is an economically important fruit tree and native to China. Viral disease is a new threat to jujube production, and several new viruses have been identified infecting jujube plants. During our field survey, jujube mosaic disease was widely distributed in Beijing, but the associated causal agents are still unknown. METHODS: Small RNA deep sequencing was conducted to identify the candidate viruses associated with jujube mosaic. Further complete genome sequences of the viruses were cloned, and the genomic characterization of each virus was analyzed. The field distribution of these viruses was further explored with PCR/RT-PCR detection of field samples. RESULTS: Mixed infection of four viruses was identified in a plant sample with the symptom of mosaic and leaf twisting, including the previously reported jujube yellow mottle-associated virus (JYMaV), persimmon ampelovirus (PAmpV), a new badnavirus tentatively named jujube-associated badnavirus (JaBV), and a new secovirus tentatively named jujube-associated secovirus (JaSV). PAmpV-jujube was 14,093 nt in length with seven putative open reading frames (ORFs) and shared highest (79.4%) nucleotide (nt) sequence identity with PAmpV PBs3. Recombination analysis showed that PAmpV-jujube was a recombinant originating from plum bark necrosis stem pitting-associated virus isolates nanjing (KC590347) and bark (EF546442). JaBV was 6449 bp in length with conserved genomic organization typical of badnaviruses. The conserved RT and RNAse H region shared highest 67.6% nt sequence identity with jujube mosaic-associated virus, which was below the 80% nt sequence identity value used as the species demarcation threshold in Badnavirus. The genome of JaSV composed of two RNA molecules of 5878 and 3337 nts in length, excluding the polyA tails. Each genome segment contained one large ORF that shared homology and phylogenetic identity with members of the family Secoviridae. Field survey showed JYMaV and JaBV were widely distributed in jujube trees in Beijing. CONCLUSION: Two new viruses were identified from jujube plants, and mixed infections of JYMaV and JaBV were common in jujube in Beijing.

Transcriptome Characterization of Pigment-Related Genes in Jujube (Ziziphus Jujuba Mill.) Peel at Different Growth Stages.

One of the most important qualities of jujube fruit is its color. Chlorophyll, carotenoid, and anthocyanin all play important roles in the coloring of jujube fruit. However, few studies have focused on the pigment molecular mechanism. In the present study, jujube peels of 'Sanbianhong' in three growth stages were evaluated for their gene expression characteristics and gene regulation related to pigment formation using the transcriptome sequencing analysis. A total of 84.86 Gb of clean data were obtained in the analysis. In the FS1 vs. FS3, FS1 vs. FS5, and FS3 vs. FS5, 4,530, 11,012, and 9,072 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, respectively. The inter-group screening among the three comparisons yielded 1430 common DEGs. Among these DEGs, 27, 16, and 28 genes were enriched in chlorophyll, carotenoid, and anthocyanin metabolic pathways, respectively. Twelve genes were chosen at random, and the accuracy of the transcriptome data were confirmed using qRT-PCR. The molecular mechanism underlying the pigmentation of jujube fruit was elucidated at the transcriptome level, which would provide a scientific basis for the subsequent functional studies on the color-regulating genes of jujube fruits.

Functional properties and flavor characteristics of milk from cows supplemented with jujube powder.

Jujube has various functional properties and is a promising source of bioactive compounds and flavors. This study investigated the functional properties and flavor characteristics of milk from cows supplemented with jujube powder (JP). Here, milk volatile profiles and taste properties were analyzed by using an electronic nose, and headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). Compared with the control group, the total antioxidant capacity, 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic free radical scavenging activity, lactoferrin, and IgG levels increased significantly in the JP group. Volatile flavor analysis indicated that ketone levels increased, while acid abundance decreased, and toluene and dimethyl sulfone significantly increased in the JP group. Taste profile analyses demonstrated that jujube supplementation altered the taste of the milk. In summary, dietary jujube powder supplementation affects the volatile flavor composition and aroma of milk, as well as the bioactive component and antioxidant properties. These findings enhance our understanding of milk production using direct dietary supplementation to produce sustainable dairy products.

Diversity and Pathogenicity of Fungi Associated with Fruit Rot of Winter Jujube in Shandong Province, China.

Winter jujube originated from China and had an extremely high nutritional value. In 2021, symptomatic winter jujube fruits were collected from eight locations in Zhanhua District of Binzhou City, Shandong Province. In total, 108 fungal isolates were obtained and grouped into 11 species based on morphological characteristics and multilocus phylogenetic analysis, including Nothophoma quercina (43.52%), Fusarium lateritium (20.37%), Alternaria alternata (12.03%), F. proliferatum (7.41%), F. graminearum (4.63%), Botryosphaeria dothidea (3.70%), Fusarium sp. (2.78%), A. tenuissima (2.78%), Diaporthe eres (1.85%), Nigrospora oryzae (0.93%), and Cercospora nicotianae (0.93%). All fungal isolates obtained in this study showed aggressiveness on detached winter jujube fruits except N. oryzae and C. nicotianae isolates, of which F. proliferatum was the most virulent, while A. alternata isolates, which have been considered the major pathogen of winter jujube fruit rot, showed a relatively low-level virulence in this study. Furthermore, D. eres, F. graminearum, F. lateritium, and an unclassified Fusarium species were first reported as causal agents of winter jujube fruit rot. The typical symptoms of winter jujube fruit rot observed in this study could be distinguished into two types. N. quercina, A. alternata, A. tenuissima, Fusarium sp., D. nobilis, and F. lateritium isolates caused reddish brown to dark gray lesions on the peel, while B. dothidea, F. graminearum, and F. proliferatum isolates caused peel and pulp decay, resulting in red to reddish brown and water-soaked lesions. In addition, haplotype analysis of N. quercina isolates obtained in this study and validly published articles showed that there were 11 haplotypes worldwide; the isolates obtained in the current study were grouped into three haplotypes (Hap 1, Hap 2, and Hap 11), and two of them (Hap 2 and Hap 11) were confirmed as new haplotypes.