Strigolactones affect the yield of Tartary buckwheat by regulating endogenous hormone levels.

BACKGROUND: As a newly class of endogenous phytohormones, strigolactones (SLs) regulate crop growth and yield formation by interacting with other hormones. However, the physiological mechanism of SLs affect the yield by regulating the balance of endogenous hormones of Tartary buckwheat is still unclear. RESULTS: In this study, a 2-year field experiment was conducted on Tartary buckwheat (Jinqiao 2) to study the effects of different concentrations (0, 10, and 20 µmol/L) of artificial synthetic analogs of SLs (rac-GR24) and inhibitor of SL synthesis (Tis-108) on the growth, endogenous-hormone content, and yield of Tartary buckwheat. The main-stem branch number, grain number per plant, grain weight per plant, and yield of Tartary buckwheat continuously decreased with increased rac-GR24 concentration, whereas the main-stem diameter and plant height initially increased and then decreased. Rac-GR24 treatment significantly increased the content of SLs and abscisic acid (ABA) in grains, and it decreased the content of Zeatin (Z) + Zeatin nucleoside (ZR). Conversely, Tis-108 treatment decreased the content of SLs and ABA but increased the content of Z + ZR. Results of correlation analysis showed that the content of ABA and SLs, the ratio of SLs/(Z + ZR), SLs/ABA, and ABA/(Z + ZR) were significantly negatively correlated with the yield of Tartary buckwheat, and that Z + ZR content was significantly positively correlated with the yield. Regression analysis further showed that ABA/ (Z + ZR) can explain 58.4% of the variation in yield. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, by adjusting the level of endogenous SLs in Tartary buckwheat, the balance of endogenous hormones in grains can be changed, thereby exerting the effect on yield. The results can provide a new agronomic method for the high-yield cultivation of Tartary buckwheat.

Effects of salt stress on root morphology, carbon and nitrogen metabolism, and yield of Tartary buckwheat.

This study aims to clarify the effects of different concentrations of sodium chloride on the carbon and nitrogen metabolism and yield of Tartary buckwheat. The salt-sensitive cultivar Yunqiao 2 was pot-grown and treated with four salt concentrations including 0, 2, 4, and 6 g kg-1. The root morphology index increased from seedling stage to maturate stage. The content of soluble protein in the leaves reached the maximum at the anthesis stage, and the other substances content and the enzymes activity related to carbon and nitrogen metabolism reached the maximum at the grain filling stage. The root morphology index, root activity; invertase, amylase, sucrose synthase, and sucrose phosphate synthase activities; nitrate-nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, and soluble protein content; and nitrate reductase and glutamate synthase activities increased first and reached the maximum at 2 g kg-1 treatment and then decreased with increasing salt stress concentration. The content of soluble sugars and sucrose and the activity of glutamate dehydrogenase increased continuously with increasing salt concentration, and reached the maximum in the 6 g kg-1 treatment. The grain number per plant, 100-grain weight, and yield per plant increased first and reached the maximum at 2 g kg-1 treatment and then decreased with increasing salt stress concentration. In summary, moderate salt stress (2 g kg-1) can promote the root growth, increase the content of carbon and nitrogen metabolism-related substances and enzyme activity, and increase the yield per plant of Tartary buckwheat.

Jian-Pi-Yi-Fei granule suppresses airway inflammation in mice induced by cigarette smoke condensate and lipopolysaccharide.

INTRODUCTION: As a chronic, progressive, and lethal pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is lacking effective treatment. Chronic inflammatory processes, including inflammatory cytokines, play an important role with in its pathogenesis. Jianpiyifei (JPYF) granule is a traditional Chinese herbal formula historically used to strengthen the spleen and tonify the lung. JPYF is used clinically to treat stable COPD. However, whether the purported anti-inflammatory effect of JPYF in COPD involves regulation of key inflammatory cytokines is not clear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The mice model of pulmonary inflammation was induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and cigarette smoke condensate (CSC). The influence of JPYF on airway inflammation in vivo was investigated. Mice were divided into three groups: control, model, and treatment groups. In the CSC + LPS model group and JPYF treatment group, intratracheal injection of CSC and LPS was used to induce airway inflammation for 5 days. JPYF group animals were also orally administered 5.5 g/kg JPYF granule for 12 days. RESULTS: The number of neutrophils and total cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of the JPYF group were markedly lower than in the model group. The levels of interleukin (IL)-1 ß and IL-6 were lower; tumor necrosis factor-alpha was downregulated, and IL-10 was higher in the JPYF group than the model group. In the JPYF group, histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) activity and protein expression were restored. CONCLUSION: The anti-inflammatory activity of JPYF involves the suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, enhanced IL-10 secretion, and the restoration of HDAC2 activity.