Structuring restricted amorphous molecular chains in the reinforced cellulose film by uniaxial stretching.

The construction of the preferred orientation structure by stretching is an efficient strategy to fabricate high-performance cellulose film and it is still an open issue whether crystalline structure or amorphous molecular chain is the key factor in determining the enhanced mechanical performance. Herein, uniaxial stretching with constant width followed by drying in a stretching state was carried out to cellulose hydrogels with physical and chemical double cross-linking networks, achieving high-performance regenerated cellulose films (RCFs) with an impressive tensile strength of 154.5 MPa and an elastic modulus of 5.4 GPa. The hierarchical structure of RCFs during uniaxial stretching and drying was systematically characterized from micro- to nanoscale, including microscopic morphology, crystalline structure as well as relaxation behavior at a molecular level. The two-dimensional correlation spectra of dynamic mechanical analysis and Havriliak-Negami fitting results verified that the enhanced mechanical properties of RCFs were mainly attributed to the stretch-induced tight packing and restricted relaxation of amorphous molecular chains. The new insight concerning the contribution of molecular chains in the amorphous region to the enhancement of mechanical performance for RCFs is expected to provide valuable guidance for designing and fabricating high-performance eco-friendly cellulose-based films.

Hierarchically porous cellulose-based carbon aerogels with N-doped skeletons and encapsulated iron-based catalysts for efficient tetracycline catalytic degradation.

Three-dimensional interpenetrating and hierarchically porous carbon material is an efficient catalyst support in water remediation and it is still a daunting challenge to establish the relationship between hierarchically porous structure and catalytic degradation performance. Herein, a highly porous silica (SiO2)/cellulose-based carbon aerogel with iron-based catalyst (FexOy) was fabricated by in-situ synthesis, freeze-drying and pyrolysis, where the addition of SiO2 induced the hierarchically porous morphology and three-dimensional interpenetrating sheet-like network with nitrogen doping. The destruction of cellulose crystalline structure by SiO2 and the iron-catalyzed breakdown of glycosidic bonds synergistically facilitated the formation of electron-rich graphite-like carbon skeleton. The unique microstructure is confirmed to be favorable for the diffusion of reactants and electron transport during catalytic process, thus boosting the catalytic degradation performance of carbon aerogels. As a result, the catalytic degradation efficiency of tetracycline under light irradiation by adding only 5 mg of FexOy/SiO2 cellulose carbon aerogels was as high as 90 % within 60 min, demonstrating the synergistic effect of photocatalysis and Fenton reaction. This ingenious structure design provides new insight into the relationship between hierarchically porous structure of carbon aerogels and their catalytic degradation performance, and opens a new avenue to develop cellulose-based carbon aerogel catalysts with efficient catalytic performance.

Regulatory roles of microRNA163 in responses to stresses in Arabidopsis.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small regulatory RNAs that participate in various biological processes by silencing target genes. In Arabidopsis, microRNA163 (miR163) was found to be involved in seed germination, root development, and biotic resistance. However, the regulatory roles of miR163 remain unclear. In the current study, the mir163 mutant was investigated to comprehensively understand and characterize its functions in Arabidopsis. RNA-sequencing and Gene Ontology enrichment analyses revealed that miR163 might be involved in "response to stimulus" and "metabolic process". Interestingly, "response to stress", including heat, cold, and oxidative stress, was enriched under the subcategory of "response to stimulus". We observed that miR163 and PXMT were repressed and induced under heat stress, respectively. Furthermore, the study detected significant differences in seed germination rate, hypocotyl length, and survival rate, indicating a variation in the thermotolerance between WT and mir163 mutant. The results revealed that the mir163 mutant had a lesser degree of germination inhibition by heat treatment than WT. In addition, the mir163 mutant showed a better survival rate and longer hypocotyl length under heat treatment than the WT. The metabolomes of WT and mir163 mutant were further analyzed. The contents of benzene derivatives and flavonoids were affected by miR163, which could enhance plants' defense abilities. In conclusion, miR163/targets regulated the expression of stress-responsive genes and the accumulation of defense-related metabolites to alter stress tolerance.

Review: Defense responses in sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L.) against biotic stress.

Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L.) is regarded as amongst the world's most important crops for food, vegetable, forage, and raw material for starch and alcohol production. Since pest attack and disease infection are the main limiting aspects frequently causing the yield loss and quality degradation of sweetpotato, it is a great demand to develop the effective defense strategies for maintaining productivity. In the past decade, many studies have focused on dynamic analysis at the physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses of sweetpotatoes to environmental challenges. This review offers an overview of the defense mechanisms against biotic stresses in sweetpotato observed so far, particularly insect herbivory and pathogen infections. The defenses of sweetpotato include the regulation of the toxic and anti-digestive proteins, plant-derived compounds, physical barrier formation, and sugar distribution. Ipomoelin and sporamin have been extensively researched for the defense against herbivore wounding. Herbivory-induced plant volatiles, chlorogenic acid, and latex phytochemicals play important roles in defenses for insect herbivory. Induction of IbSWEET10 reduces sugar content to mediate F. oxysporum resistance. Therefore, these researches provide the genetic strategies for improving resistance bioengineering and breeding of sweetpotato crops and future prospects for research in this field.

Regenerated cellulose as template for in-situ synthesis of monoclinic titanium dioxide nanocomposite carbon aerogel towards multiple application in water treatment.

Immobilizing catalyst system faces the challenge of balancing catalysts stability and exposure of active site in water treatment. In this study, a novel in-situ synthesis of monoclinic phase of titanium dioxide (TiO2(B)) in cellulose-derived carbon aerogel (TCA) is proposed for processing multi-task in water treatment. The homogeneous gelation reaction supported the high dispersion of TiO2(B) in carbon skeleton. Meanwhile, TiO2 acts as crosslinker to reinforce cellulose network, then the grain refinement of amorphous TiO2 is limited to obtain TiO2(B) during carbonization. Benefiting from the reinforced structure, TCA remains the porous structure after carbonization and exposes more adsorption site than carbon aerogel blended with anatase particles (ACA). The adsorption performance of TCA are 837.3 mg/g, 1156.2 mg/g and 512.6 mg/g on methylene blue, malachite green and crystal violet, respectively. Compared with ACA, the superior interaction between TiO2 and graphite-like carbon improves the degradation rate of tetracycline from 1.3 × 10-3 min-1 to 8.6 × 10-3 min-1, and maintains the degradation efficiency in 3 rounds cyclic test. Besides, TCA also exhibits nearly twice to ACA on absorption capacity of different oil. This facile in-situ synthesis method offers a new insight in fabricating carbon aerogel immobilized photocatalysts system for multi-task in water treatment.

Access to Polysubstituted Halophosphorylated Dihydrofurans via Halotrimethylsilane-Promoted Cascade Cyclization of γ-Hydroxyl Ynones with Diphenylphosphine Oxides.

A halotrimethylsilane (TMSX) accelerated cascade halophosphorylation and cycloisomerization of γ-hydroxyl ynones with diphenylphosphine oxides is presented. This methodology allows the one-step synthesis of practical polysubstituted halophosphorylated dihydrofuran derivatives. It is noteworthy that halotrimethylsilane functions as a halogenation reagent as well as a promoter to initiate this transformation. In addition, the reaction system can also be scaled up to gram quantities, and the produced halogenated compounds can undergo further derivatizations by Pd-catalyzed coupling reactions.

Integrated small RNA profiling and degradome analysis of Anthurium andraeanum cultivars with different-colored spathes.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are known to play vital roles in coloration of leaves, flowers, and fruits in plants. However, their functions in spathe coloration are poorly known. Anthurium andraeanum is a popular ornamental plant with various spathe colors. In this study, small RNA and degradome libraries from three A. andraeanum cultivars with different-colored spathes were constructed and sequenced. Illumina sequencing resulted in 94 conserved miRNAs, and 34 novel miRNAs in total were then identified based on precursor sequences and hairpin structures. Differential expression analysis showed that 52, 51, and 49 miRNAs were differentially expressed in comparisons of orange- versus white-colored spathe, purple- versus white-colored spathe, and purple- versus orange-colored spathe, respectively. The expression patterns of miRNAs and their corresponding targets involved in spathe coloration were further analyzed, and displayed that miR156b and miR529 were highly abundant in the spathes with higher anthocyanin content. These two miRNAs co-targeted a gene encoding SPL17, which may function as a negative regulator in anthocyanin accumulation. In addition, miR408 was also abundantly expressed in purple- and orange-colored spathes, and its typical targets were also identified. This comprehensive integrated analysis provides insight into the miRNA-mediated genetic regulation in spathe coloration of A. andraeanum.

Iron(II)-Catalyzed Bisphosphorylation Cascade Cycloisomerization of γ-Hydroxyl Ynones and Diphenylphosphine Oxides: Synthesis of Highly Substituted Bisphosphorylated Dihydrofuran Derivatives.

An iron(II)-catalyzed bisphosphorylation cascade cycloisomerization of readily accessible γ-hydroxyl ynones and diphenylphosphine oxides is described. This strategy provides a variety of valuable polysubstituted bisphosphorylated dihydrofuran scaffolds via the construction of two C-P bonds and one C-O bond within a single procedure. This developed reaction system demonstrates good functional group compatibilities with considerably low catalyst consumption (as low as 1%), which could be further scaled up to gram quantities in satisfactory yields.

Piriformospora indica colonization increases the growth, development, and herbivory resistance of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.).

KEY MESSAGE: Piriformospora indica symbiosis promoted the growth and photosynthesis, and simultaneously enhanced the resistance against insect herbivory by regulating sporamin-dependent defense in sweet potato. Piriformospora indica (P. indica), a versatile endophytic fungus, promotes the growth and confers resistance against multiple stresses by root colonization in plant hosts. In this study, the effects of P. indica colonization on the growth, physiological change, and herbivore resistance of leaf-vegetable sweet potato cultivar were investigated. P. indica symbiosis significantly improved the biomass in both above- and under-ground parts of sweet potato plants. In comparison with the non-colonized plants, the content of photosynthetic pigments and the efficiency of photosynthesis were increased in P. indica-colonized sweet potato plants. Further investigation showed that the activity of catalase was enhanced in both leaves and roots of sweet potato plants after colonization, but ascorbate peroxidase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase were not enhanced. Furthermore, the interaction between P. indica and sweet potato plants also showed the biological function in jasmonic acid (JA)-mediated defense. The plants colonized by P. indica had greatly increased JA accumulation and defense gene expressions, including IbNAC1, IbbHLH3, IbpreproHypSys, and sporamin, leading to elevated trypsin inhibitory activity, which was consistent with a reduced Spodoptera litura performance when larvae fed on the leaves of P. indica-colonized sweet potato plants. The root symbiosis of P. indica is helpful for the plant promoting growth and development and has a strong function as resistance inducers against herbivore attack in sweet potato cultivation by regulating sporamin-dependent defense.

Volatile DMNT systemically induces jasmonate-independent direct anti-herbivore defense in leaves of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) plants.

Plants perceive and respond to volatile signals in their environment. Herbivore-infested plants release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which can initiate systemic defense reactions within the plant and contribute to plant-plant communication. Here, for Ipomoea batatas (sweet potato) leaves we show that among various herbivory-induced plant volatiles, (E)-4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene (DMNT) had the highest abundance of all emitted compounds. This homoterpene was found being sufficient for a volatile-mediated systemic induction of defensive Sporamin protease inhibitor activity in neighboring sweet potato plants. The systemic induction is jasmonate independent and does not need any priming-related challenge. Induced emission and responsiveness to DMNT is restricted to a herbivory-resistant cultivar (Tainong 57), while a susceptible cultivar, Tainong 66, neither emitted amounts comparable to Tainong 57, nor showed reaction to DMNT. This is consistent with the finding that Spodoptera larvae feeding on DMNT-exposed cultivars gain significantly less weight on Tainong 57 compared to Tainong 66. Our results indicate a highly specific, single volatile-mediated plant-plant communication in sweet potato.

Cloning and overexpression of the ascorbate peroxidase gene from the yam (Dioscorea alata) enhances chilling and flood tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis.

Minghuai 1 (MH1) is a yam (Dioscorea alata) cultivar with high tolerance to flooding but sensitivity to chilling. MH1 responded differently to chilling and flooding according to various physiological parameters and antioxidant enzymes. Flooding led to an increase in ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity in both roots and leaves, while chilling did not affect APX activity. The full length DaAPX ORF sequence from MH1 (750 bp) was then cloned. Phylogenetic analysis showed that plant cytosolic APXs into four major clusters and DaAPX was closely related to Oncidium. The DaAPX gene driven by a 35S promoter was transferred into Arabidopsis. The gene expression and enzyme activity of APX in the DaAPX transgenic lines 1-3 were significantly higher than in wild type (WT) plants. Compared to WT plants, seedling growth characteristics were significantly better in all transgenic lines under chilling, flooding, and oxidative stresses, indicating that the overexpression of DaAPX in Arabidopsis enhanced tolerance to several abiotic stresses. MH1 plants supplied with H2O2 presented an increase in the activity of APX leading to enhanced tolerance to chilling. Functional characterization of the APX gene should improve our understanding of the chilling- and flood-response mechanism in the yam.

Overexpression of the ascorbate peroxidase gene from eggplant and sponge gourd enhances flood tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis.

Previously, we found that the flood resistance of eggplant (Solanum melongena) and sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica) enhanced ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity under flooding, and consequently, both the SmAPX and LcAPX genes were cloned. In this study, the SmAPX and LcAPX genes were transferred under a ubiquitin promoter to Arabidopsis (At) via Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The expression and amount of APX and APX activities of the SmAPX and LcAPX transgenic lines were significantly higher than those of non-transgenic (NT) plants under a waterlogged condition. Furthermore, the SmAPX, LcAPX, At-sucrose synthases (SUS)-1, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) genes were overexpressed in all transgenic Arabidopsis lines after flooding treatment. Compared to NT plants, the malondialdehyde (MDA) contents and H2O2 accumulation were significantly lower, but germination rates were significantly higher in all transgenic lines with higher APX activity, indicating that the overexpression of SmAPX and LcAPX in Arabidopsis could enhance flood tolerance by eliminating H2O2. Moreover, Arabidopsis seedlings overexpressing SmAPX and LcAPX also displayed greater resistance to flooding and less oxidative injury than NT plants subjected to flooding condition.

The Sweet Potato NAC-Domain Transcription Factor IbNAC1 Is Dynamically Coordinated by the Activator IbbHLH3 and the Repressor IbbHLH4 to Reprogram the Defense Mechanism against Wounding.

IbNAC1 is known to activate the defense system by reprogramming a genetic network against herbivory in sweet potato. This regulatory activity elevates plant defense potential but relatively weakens plants by IbNAC1-mediated JA response. The mechanism controlling IbNAC1 expression to balance plant vitality and survival remains unclear. In this study, a wound-responsive G-box cis-element in the IbNAC1 promoter from -1484 to -1479 bp was identified. From a screen of wound-activated transcriptomic data, one transcriptional activator, IbbHLH3, and one repressor, IbbHLH4, were selected that bind to and activate or repress, respectively, the G-box motif in the IbNAC1 promoter to modulate the IbNAC1-mediated response. In the early wound response, the IbbHLH3-IbbHLH3 protein complex binds to the G-box motif to activate IbNAC1 expression. Thus, an elegant defense network is activated against wounding stress. Until the late stages of wounding, IbbHLH4 interacts with IbbHLH3, and the IbbHLH3-IbbHLH4 heterodimer competes with the IbbHLH3-IbbHLH3 complex to bind the G-box and suppress IbNAC1 expression and timely terminates the defense network. Moreover, the JAZs and IbEIL1 proteins interact with IbbHLH3 to repress the transactivation function of IbbHLH3 in non-wounded condition, but their transcription is immediately inhibited upon early wounding. Our work provides a genetic model that accurately switches the regulatory mechanism of IbNAC1 expression to adjust wounding physiology and represents a delicate defense regulatory network in plants.

Sweet potato NAC transcription factor, IbNAC1, upregulates sporamin gene expression by binding the SWRE motif against mechanical wounding and herbivore attack.

Sporamin is a tuberous storage protein with trypsin inhibitory activity in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas Lam.), which accounts for 85% of the soluble protein in tubers. It is constitutively expressed in tuberous roots but is expressed in leaves only after wounding. Thus far, its wound-inducible signal transduction mechanisms remain unclear. In the present work, a 53-bp DNA region, sporamin wound-response cis-element (SWRE), was identified in the sporamin promoter and was determined to be responsible for the wounding response. Using yeast one-hybrid screening, a NAC domain protein, IbNAC1, that specifically bound to the 5'-TACAATATC-3' sequence in SWRE was isolated from a cDNA library from wounded leaves. IbNAC1 was constitutively expressed in root tissues and was induced earlier than sporamin following the wounding of leaves. Transgenic sweet potato plants overexpressing IbNAC1 had greatly increased sporamin expression, increased trypsin inhibitory activity, and elevated resistance against Spodoptera litura. We further demonstrated that IbNAC1 has multiple biological functions in the jasmonic acid (JA) response, including the inhibition of root formation, accumulation of anthocyanin, regulation of aging processes, reduction of abiotic tolerance, and overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Thus, IbNAC1 is a core transcription factor that reprograms the transcriptional response to wounding via the JA-mediated pathway in sweet potato.