[Research progress in strigolactones and application prospect in medicinal plants].

Strigolactones(SLs) are a class of sesquiterpenoids derived from the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway with the core carbon skeleton consisting of tricyclic lactone(ABC tricyclic ring) and α,ß-unsaturated furan ring(D ring). SLs are widely distributed in higher plants and are symbiotic signals between plants and Arbuscular mycorrhiza(AM), which play key roles in the evolution of plant colonizing terrestrial habitats. As a new type of plant hormone, SLs possess such important biological functions as inhibiting shoot branching(tillers), regulating root architecture, promoting secondary growth, and improving plant stress resistance. Therefore, SLs have attracted wide attention. The biological functions of SLs are not only closely related to the formation of "excellent shape and quality" of Chinese medicinal materials but also have important practical significance for the production of high-quality medicinal materials. However, SLs have been currently widely studied in model plants and crops such as Oryza sativa and Arabidopsis thaliana, and few related studies have been reported on SLs in medicinal plants, which need to be strengthened. This review focused on the latest research progress in the isolation and identification, biological and artificial synthesis pathways, biosynthesis sites and transport modes, signal transduction pathways and mechanisms, and biological functions of SLs, and prospected the research on the regulation mechanism of SLs in the growth and development of medicinal plants and their related application on targeted regulation of Chinese herbal medicine production, which is expected to provide some references for the in-depth research on SLs in the field of Chinese medicinal resources.

Regenerative plantlets with improved agronomic characteristics caused by anther culture of tetraploid potato (Solanum tuberosum L.).

Objective: As the primary means of plant-induced haploid, anther culture is of great significance in quickly obtaining pure lines and significantly shortening the potato breeding cycle. Nevertheless, the methods of anther culture of tetraploid potato were still not well established. Methods: In this study, 16 potato cultivars (lines) were used for anther culture in vitro. The corresponding relation between the different development stages of microspores and the external morphology of buds was investigated. A highly-efficient anther culture system of tetraploid potatoes was established. Results: It was shown in the results that the combined use of 0.5 mg/L 1-Naphthylacetic acid (NAA), 1.0 mg/L 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), and 1.0 mg/L Kinetin (KT) was the ideal choice of hormone pairing for anther callus. Ten of the 16 potato cultivars examined could be induced callus with their respective anthers, and the induction rate ranged from 4.44% to 22.67% using this hormone combination. According to the outcome from the orthogonal design experiments of four kinds of appendages, we found that the medium with sucrose (40 g/L), AgNO3 (30 mg/L), activated carbon (3 g/L), potato extract (200 g/L) had a promotive induction effect on the anther callus. In contrast, adding 1 mg/L Zeatin (ZT) effectively facilitated callus differentiation. Conclusion: Finally, 201 anther culture plantlets were differentiated from 10 potato cultivars. Among these, Qingshu 168 and Ningshu 15 had higher efficiency than anther culture. After identification by flow cytometry and fluorescence in situ hybridization, 10 haploid plantlets (5%), 177 tetraploids (88%), and 14 octoploids (7%) were obtained. Some premium anther-cultured plantlets were further selected by morphological and agronomic comparison. Our findings provide important guidance for potato ploidy breeding.

[Effect of scalp acupuncture stimulation on mood and sleep in children with autism spectrum disorder].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of penetrating technique of scalp acupuncture on emotion, sleep and function development in children of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS: A total of 60 SAD children aged 3 to 6 years were randomized in a control group (music education rehabilitation,n=30) and an observation group (penetrating technique of scalp acupuncture + music education rehabilitation,n=30). In the two groups, the treatment for 3 months was as 1 course, and 2 courses of treatment were required. Before and after treatment, the changes were observed in childhood autism rating scale (CARS), emotion regulation subscale (ER), children's sleep habits questionnaire (CSHQ) and children autism and psycho-educational profile for autistic and developmentally disabled children (C-PEP-3), separately. RESULTS: Compared with the scores before treatment, CARS score, the score of each subscale of CSHQ, e.g. bedtime resistance, sleep onset delay, irregular sleep duration, sleep anxiety, parasomnias and daytime sleepiness as well as the total score of CSHQ were all reduced in children of two groups (P<0.05); and the score of ER and C-PEP-3 were all increased (P<0.05) after 6 months' treatment. Compared with the control group, ER score was increased in 3 and 6 months after treatment (P<0.05), CARS score was reduced (P<0.05) and C-PEP-3 score was increased obviously (P<0.05) 6 months after treatment in the observation group; but the scores of the subscale for night waking and sleep disordered breathing did not changed noticeably (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Penetrating technique of scalp acupuncture improves the emotion and sleep disorder and promotes the function development in ASD children.