Comprehensive transcriptome analysis of grafting onto Artemisia scoparia W. to affect the aphid resistance of chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium T.).

BACKGROUND: Aphid (Macrosiphoniella sanbourni) stress drastically influences the yield and quality of chrysanthemum, and grafting has been widely used to improve tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. However, the effect of grafting on the resistance of chrysanthemum to aphids remains unclear. Therefore, we used the RNA-Seq platform to perform a de novo transcriptome assembly to analyze the self-rooted grafted chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium T. 'Hangbaiju') and the grafted Artermisia-chrysanthemum (grafted onto Artemisia scoparia W.) transcription response to aphid stress. RESULTS: The results showed that there were 1337 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), among which 680 were upregulated and 667 were downregulated, in the grafted Artemisia-chrysanthemum compared to the self-rooted grafted chrysanthemum. These genes were mainly involved in sucrose metabolism, the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, the plant hormone signaling pathway and the plant-to-pathogen pathway. KEGG and GO enrichment analyses revealed the coordinated upregulation of these genes from numerous functional categories related to aphid stress responses. In addition, we determined the physiological indicators of chrysanthemum under aphid stress, and the results were consistent with the molecular sequencing results. All evidence indicated that grafting chrysanthemum onto A. scoparia W. upregulated aphid stress responses in chrysanthemum. CONCLUSION: In summary, our study presents a genome-wide transcript profile of the self-rooted grafted chrysanthemum and the grafted Artemisia-chrysanthemum and provides insights into the molecular mechanisms of C. morifolium T. in response to aphid infestation. These data will contribute to further studies of aphid tolerance and the exploration of new candidate genes for chrysanthemum molecular breeding.

'Personalisation' of droplet-vitrification protocols for plant cells: a systematic approach to optimising chemical and osmotic effects.

Although an appropriate cryopreservation protocol is a prerequisite for basic studies and large-scale implementation as well as further cryopreservation studies, the process relies on trial and error. Among the vitrification-based cryopreservation techniques, droplet-vitrification produces high post-cryopreservation recovery. However, the protocol itself cannot solve the problems engaged in plant cryopreservation, prominently due to dehydration with cytotoxic vitrification solutions. This paper proposes a set of treatments to develop droplet-vitrification using a standard procedure associated with additional treatments and alternative vitrification solutions. The proposed standard protocol consists of a progressive preculture with 0.3 M sucrose for 31 h and with 0.7 M for 17 h, loading with vitrification solution C4-35% (17.5 percent glycerol + 17.5 percent sucrose, w/v) for 20 to 40 min, dehydration with vitrification solutions A3-90 percent (37.5 percent glycerol + 15% DMSO + 15 percent EG + 22.5 percent sucrose) for 10 to 30 min or B1-100 percent (PVS3) for 40 to 120 min at room temperature, cooling the samples using aluminum foil strips, rewarming by plunging into pre-heated (40 degree C) unloading solution (0.8 M sucrose) and further unloading for 20 to 60 min, depending on size and permeability of the materials. Using this systematic approach we can identify whether the material is tolerant or sensitive to chemical toxicity and to the osmotic stress of dehydration with vitrification solutions, thus revealing which is the main barrier in solution-based vitrification methods. Based on the sensitivity of samples we can design a droplet-vitrification procedure, i.e. preculture, loading, dehydration with vitrification solutions, cooling and rewarming. Using this approach, the development of appropriate droplet-vitrification protocol is facilitated.

Syncyte formation in the microsporangium of Chrysanthemum (Asteraceae): a pathway to infraspecific polyploidy.

Polyploidy, which is thought to have played an important role in plant evolution and speciation, is prevalent in Chrysanthemum (x = 9). In fact, polyploid series are known in C. zawadskii (2x, 4x, 6x, 8x, and 10x) and C. indicum (2x, 4x, and 6x), but the mechanism by which polyploidization occurs is unknown. Here we show that in diploid individuals of both C. zawadskii and C. indicum, the fusion between two adjacent pollen mother cells (PMCs) occurs at a frequency of 1.1-1.3% early in the first meiotic division. While possessing the chromosomes of both PMCs, the fused cell or syncyte undertakes subsequent meiotic division processes as a single large PMC, producing four 2n pollen grains that are able to germinate. Despite their low frequency, syncyte formation may have played a major role in the production of infraspecific polyploids in Chrysanthemum.

Biological effect of radiation-degraded alginate on flower plants in tissue culture.

Alginate with a weight-average molecular mass (Mw) of approx. 9.04 x 10(5) Da was irradiated at 10-200 kGy in 4% (w/v) aqueous solution. The degraded alginate product was used to study its effectiveness as a growth promoter for plants in tissue culture. Alginate irradiated at 75 kGy with an Mw of approx. 1.43 x 10(4) Da had the highest positive effect in the growth of flower plants, namely limonium, lisianthus and chrysanthemum. Treatment of plants with irradiated alginate at concentrations of 30-200 mg/l increased the shoot multiplication rate from 17.5 to 40.5% compared with control. In plantlet culture, 100 mg/l irradiated alginate supplementation enhanced shoot height (9.7-23.2%), root length (9.7-39.4%) and fresh biomass (8.1-19.4%) of chrysanthemum, lisianthus and limonium compared with that of the untreated control. The survival ratios of the transferred flower plantlets treated with irradiated alginate were almost the same as the control value under greenhouse conditions. However, better growth was attained for the treated plantlets.

[Study on cross-section morphorlogy of Flos Chrysanthemi from Zhejiang Province and comparison with other kinds of Flos Chrysanthemi].

OBJECTIVE: To identify all kinds of commodity Flos Chrysanthemi. METHOD: The cross-section morphorlogy of each part of Hangbaiju was studied and compared with other 4 kinds of Flos Chrysanthemi. RESULT: The characters of cross-section morphorlogy of each part of Hanghaiju were obtained. And it was found that cross-section morphology of the commodity Flos Chrysanthemi was different. CONCLUSION: It provided evidences for the identification of Hangbaiju with other 4 kinds of Flos Chrysanthemi.

[Pharmacognostic identification of Herba Chrysanthemi].

OBJECTIVE: To provide evidences for the identification and utilization of Herba Chrysanthemi. METHODS: Regular mehods for morphological and histological identification, TLC and UV were used. RESELTS: The descriptions characters of Herba Chrysanthemi were recounted. The histological characters of the stem and the leaf were also described. TLC showed Herba Chrysanthemi contained chlorogenic acid. UV spectrum showed Herba Chrysanthemi had absorbed peaks at 248 nm and 327 nm. CONCLUSION: All the above-mentioned characters provided evidences for the identification of Herba Chrysanthemi.