Regulatory networks of senescence-associated gene-transcription factors promote degradation in Moso bamboo shoots.

Bamboo cultivation, particularly Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis), holds significant economic importance in various regions worldwide. Bamboo shoot degradation (BSD) severely affects productivity and economic viability. However, despite its agricultural consequences, the molecular mechanisms underlying BSD remain unclear. Consequently, we explored the dynamic changes of BSD through anatomy, physiology and the transcriptome. Our findings reveal ruptured protoxylem cells, reduced cell wall thickness and the accumulation of sucrose and reactive oxygen species (ROS) during BSD. Transcriptomic analysis underscored the importance of genes related to plant hormone signal transduction, sugar metabolism and ROS homoeostasis in this process. Furthermore, BSD appears to be driven by the coexpression regulatory network of senescence-associated gene transcription factors (SAG-TFs), specifically PeSAG39, PeWRKY22 and PeWRKY75, primarily located in the protoxylem of vascular bundles. Yeast one-hybrid and dual-luciferase assays demonstrated that PeWRKY22 and PeWRKY75 activate PeSAG39 expression by binding to its promoter. This study advanced our understanding of the molecular regulatory mechanisms governing BSD, offering a valuable reference for enhancing Moso bamboo forest productivity.

Low phosphorus impact on Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) root morphological polymorphism and expression pattern of the related genes.

Moso bamboo typically grows in phosphorus (P)-deficient soil that limits its growth and development. In this study, 10 Moso bamboo genotypes (Ph-1 to Ph-10) were evaluated for their responses to P deficiency during the seedling stage by growing them in both P-sufficient and P-deficient conditions. Adaptive responses to low P (LP) conditions were observed in the majority of genotypes. Under P deficiency conditions, the total biomass decreased in several genotypes, but at the same time, the root-to-shoot ratio increased. Principal component analysis identified two main comprehensive traits (PC1 and PC2) related to the root volume and surface area and P concentration and accumulation. Based on the analysis, two genotypes (Ph-6 and Ph-10) were identified with significantly different levels of tolerance to P deficiency. The results revealed that the genotype Ph-10 responded to P deficiency by significantly increasing the root surface area and volume, while simultaneously reducing the number of root cortex cells when compared with the genotype Ph-6, which showed the lowest tolerance (intolerant). The genotype Ph-10 exhibited a robust response to external LP conditions, marked by elevated expression levels of PHOSPHATE TRANSPORTERs and SYG1/PHO81/XPR1s. In situ Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) analysis also revealed distinct tissue-specific expression patterns of the genes in the roots, particularly highlighting the differences between Ph-6 and Ph-10. The results provide a foundation for elucidating the mechanism of LP tolerance, thus potentially contributing to developing high P-use efficiency in Moso bamboo species.

Effects of aeration treatments on root and rhizome growth parameters of Phyllostachys violascens (Lei bamboo) under intensive cultivation: A field study.

Aeration through underground tunneling in mulched Phyllostachys violascens (Lei bamboo) forests can improve soil quality. Nevertheless, the effect of soil ventilation on the growth of bamboo roots and rhizomes at different distances, directions and depths of the forest are still unclear. In a field experiment, four treatments including organic mulching without aeration (MNA), organic mulching with aeration (MA), non-mulched with aeration (NMA), and non-mulched and non-aeration treatment (control) were set up to investigate the effects of soil aeration treatment on bamboo root and rhizome growth at different depths and radii distances from the bamboo trunk in both perpendicular (PD) and horizontal (HD) aeration directions. The results show that root and rhizome quantity and quality decreased vertically and linearly in the soil layers and this trend was more significant in the PD direction and near the trunk. MA treatment induced the most significant effects on the determined root and rhizome growth parameters. At 10 cm depth, the number of rhizomes in CK was 70.8 %, 77.1 %, and 18.8 % higher than that in MA, NMA, and MNA plots, respectively. However, fewer rhizomes appeared in CK and MNA plots at 20 and 30 cm depths relative to 10 cm while the number was increased by 149 % in MA and 151 % NMA plots at 20 cm. This suggest that in CK and MNA plots, soil hypoxia and soil acidification were prevalent which inhibited rhizome growth by inducing rhizome up-floating and preventing root elongation, respectively. Also, the root morphological parameters including lengths, surface areas, and volumetric areas were significantly increased in MA and MNA treatments compared to the control and NMA. For example, root length, surface area, and volumetric area in MA were increased by 56 %, 44.9 %, and 28.3 % while that in MNA increased by 40 %, 55.8 %, and 81.0 % compared with roots from the control plot. This study provides both a theoretical and practical guide for improving soil quality and bamboo growth under intensive management using aeration treatment.

Number comparison under the Ebbinghaus illusion.

A series of studies show interest in how visual attributes affect the estimate of object numbers in a scene. In comparison tasks, it is suggested that larger patches are perceived as more numerous. However, the inequality of density, which changes inversely with the area when numerosity remains constant, may mediate the influence of area on numerosity perception. This study aims to explore the role of area and density in the judgment of numerosity. The Ebbinghaus illusion paradigm was adopted to induce differences in the perceived, rather than the physical, area of the two patches to be compared. Participants were asked to compare the area, density, and the number of the two patches in three tasks. To this end, no PSE (point of subjective equality) bias was found in number comparison with randomly distributed dots, although a significant difference was revealed in the perceived area of the two patches. No PSE bias was found in the density comparison, either. For a comparison, density and number tasks were also conducted with regularly distributed dots. No PSE bias was found in density comparison. By contrast, significant PSE bias showed up in number comparison, and larger patches appeared to be more numerous than smaller patches. The density mechanism was proposed as the basis for number comparison with regular patterns. The individual Weber fractions for regular patterns were not correlated with those for random patterns in the number task, but they were correlated with those for both patterns in the density task. To summarize, numerosity is directly sensed, and numerosity perception is not affected by area inequality induced by the Ebbinghaus illusion. In contrast, density and area are combined to infer numerosity when the approximate numerosity mechanism is disrupted by dot distribution.

Effect of Noni on Memory Impairment Induced by Hydrocortisone in Mice.

Background: Oxidative stress and memory impairment have been implicated as common functional brain diseases. Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is highly induced in oxidative stress, indicating that Nrf2 is an emerging target of memory therapy. This study aimed to investigate the effect of noni on brain memory impairment induced by hydrocortisone and its protective mechanism in mice. Methods: Male Kunming mice (n = 8/group) were given hydrocortisone by gastric gavage for 14 consecutive days to establish the memory impairment model, except for those in the control group. On the same day, the corresponding drugs were given by gastric gavage. The changes in ethology were examined. The brains were extracted and subjected to western blot analysis and biochemical analyses to assess the activities of antioxidative stress. Results: The middle- and high-dose noni groups exhibited ameliorated ethology, and the high-dose noni group exhibited increased cerebral protein expression of Nrf2, Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1), and haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1) compared to the model group. The arrangement of CA3 vertebral cells in the hippocampus of mice was slightly compact, and hyperchromasia and pyknosis were alleviated. Furthermore, biochemical analyses showed that the activities of enzymes related to oxidative stress in the high-dose noni group were increased. Conclusions: Noni might be a powerful antioxidant that can protect nerve cells and may possess potential benefits for the treatment of memory impairment.

Cannabidiol Content and In Vitro Biological Activities of Commercial Cannabidiol Oils and Hemp Seed Oils.

Background: Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) seed contains high contents of various nutrients, including fatty acids and proteins. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive compound that can be extracted from C. sativa and used for treating epilepsy and pain. Industrial hemp products, including CBD and hemp seed oils, have become increasingly popular. Some products are marketed without a clear distinction between CBD and hemp seed oils. Herein, the CBD content and biological activities of commercial CBD and hemp seed oils were examined. Methods: CBD content was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. For in vitro antioxidant activity determination, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical-scavenging assays were performed. Results: The CBD concentrations in the two CBD oil samples were 18.9 ± 0.5 and 9.2 ± 0.4 mg/mL. Of the seven hemp seed oil samples, six samples contained CBD in concentrations ranging from 2.0 ± 0.1 to 20.5 ± 0.5 µg/mL, but it was not detected in one sample. Antioxidant activity was observed in both CBD oil samples. Conclusions: The results indicate that (1) CBD content varied by hemp seed oil sample and that (2) antioxidant activity could be a useful landmark for discriminating CBD oils from hemp seed oils.

Conservation and divergence of ancestral AGAMOUS/SEEDSTICK subfamily genes from the basal angiosperm Magnolia wufengensis.

AGAMOUS/SEEDSTICK (AG/STK) subfamily genes play crucial roles in the reproductive development of plants. However, most of our current knowledge of AG/STK subfamily genes is restricted to core eudicots and grasses, and the knowledge of ancestral exon-intron structures, expression patterns, protein-protein interaction patterns and functions of AG/STK subfamily genes remains unclear. To determine these, we isolated AG/STK subfamily genes (MawuAG1, MawuAG2 and MawuSTK) from a woody basal angiosperm Magnolia wufengensis (Magnoliaceae). MawuSTK arose from the gene duplication event occurring before the diversification of extant angiosperms, and MawuAG1 and MawuAG2 may result from a gene duplication event occurring before the divergence of Magnoliaceae and Lauraceae. Gene duplication led to apparent diversification in their expression and interaction patterns. It revealed that expression in both stamens and carpels likely represents the ancestral expression profiles of AG lineage genes, and expression of STK-like genes in stamens may have been lost soon after the appearance of the STK lineage. Moreover, AG/STK subfamily proteins may have immediately established interactions with the SEPALLATA (SEP) subfamily proteins following the emergence of the SEP subfamily; however, their interactions with the APETALA1/FRUITFULL subfamily proteins or themselves differ from those found in monocots and basal and core eudicots. MawuAG1 plays highly conserved roles in the determinacy of stamen, carpel and ovule identity, while gene duplication contributed to the functional diversification of MawuAG2 and MawuSTK. In addition, we investigated the evolutionary history of exon-intron structural changes of the AG/STK subfamily, and a novel splice-acceptor mode (GUU-AU) and the convergent evolution of N-terminal extension in the euAG and PLE subclades were revealed for the first time. These results further advance our understanding of ancestral AG/STK subfamily genes in terms of phylogeny, exon-intron structures, expression and interaction patterns, and functions, and provide strong evidence for the significance of gene duplication in the expansion and evolution of the AG/STK subfamily.

De novo transcriptome sequencing and gene expression profiling of Magnolia wufengensis in response to cold stress.

BACKGROUND: Magnolia wufengensis is a new species of Magnolia L. and has considerable ornamental and economic value due to its unique characteristics. However, because of its characteristic of poor low temperature resistance, M. wufengensis is hardly popularization and application in the north of China. Furthermore, the mechanisms of gene regulation and signaling pathways involved in the cold-stress response remained unclear in this species. In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, we performed de novo transcriptome assembly and compared the gene expression under the natural (25 °C) and cold (4 °C) conditions for M. wufengensis seedlings. RESULTS: More than 46 million high-quality clean reads were produced from six samples (RNA was extracted from the leaves) and were used for performing de novo transcriptome assembly. A total of 59,764 non-redundant unigenes with an average length of 899 bp (N50 = 1,110) were generated. Among these unigenes, 31,038 unigenes exhibited significant sequence similarity to known genes, as determined by BLASTx searches (E-value ≤1.0E-05) against the Nr, SwissProt, String, GO, KEGG, and Cluster of COG databases. Based on a comparative transcriptome analysis, 3,910 unigenes were significantly differentially expressed (false discovery rate [FDR] < 0.05 and |log2FC (CT/CK)| ≥ 1) in the cold-treated samples, and 2,616 and 1,294 unigenes were up- and down-regulated by cold stress, respectively. Analysis of the expression patterns of 16 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) confirmed the accuracy of the RNA-Seq results. Gene Ontology and KEGG pathway functional enrichment analyses allowed us to better understand these differentially expressed unigenes. The most significant transcriptomic changes observed under cold stress were related to plant hormone and signal transduction pathways, primary and secondary metabolism, and photosynthesis. In addition, 113 transcription factors, including members of the AP2-EREBP, bHLH, WRKY, MYB, NAC, HSF, and bZIP families, were identified as cold responsive. CONCLUSION: We generated a genome-wide transcript profile of M. wufengensis and a de novo-assembled transcriptome that can be used to analyze genes involved in biological processes. In this study, we provide the first report of transcriptome sequencing of cold-stressed M. wufengensis. Our findings provide important clues not only for understanding the molecular mechanisms of cold stress in plants but also for introducing cold hardiness into M. wufengensis.

Microclimate simulation and model optimization of the effect of roadway green space on atmospheric particulate matter.

Urban green spaces have the potential to mitigate and regulate atmospheric pollution. However, existing studies have primarily focused on the adsorption effect of different plants on atmospheric particulate matter (PM), whereas the effect of green space on PM has not been adequately addressed. In this study, the effect of different urban green space structures and configurations on PM was investigated through the 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model ENVI-met by treating the green space as a whole based on field monitoring, and at the same time, the regulatory effect of green space on PM was examined by integrating information about the forest stand, PM concentration, and meteorological factors. The results show that the green space primarily affected wind speed but had no significant effect on relative humidity, temperature, or wind direction (P > 0.05). The PM concentration was significantly positively correlated with the relative humidity (P < 0.01), significantly negatively correlated with temperature (P < 0.05), but not significantly correlated with wind speed and direction (P > 0.05). Comparison with the measured values reveals that the ENVI-met model well reflected the differences in PM concentrations between different green spaces and the effect of green space on PM. In different green space structures, the uniform-type structure performed rather poorly at purifying PM, the concave-shaped structure performed the best, and the purifying effectiveness of the incremental-type and convex-shaped structure of green space was higher in the rear region than in the front region; in contrast, the degressional-type green space structure was prone to cause aggregation of the PM in the middle region. Broadleaf and broadleaf mixed forests had a better purifying effectiveness on PM than did coniferous forests, mixed coniferous forests, and coniferous broadleaf mixed forests. The above results are of great significance for urban planning and maximizing the use of urban green space resources.

Gene duplication led to divergence of expression patterns, protein-protein interaction patterns and floral development functions of AGL6-like genes in the basal angiosperm Magnolia wufengensis (Magnoliaceae).

The MADS-box family genes play critical roles in the regulation of growth and development of flowering plants. AGAMOUS-LIKE 6 (AGL6)-like genes are one of the most enigmatic subfamilies of the MADS-box family because of highly variable expression patterns and ambiguous functions, which have long puzzled researchers. A lot of AGL6 homologs have been identified from gymnosperms and angiosperms. However, only a few have been characterized, especially for basal angiosperm taxa. Magnolia wufengensis is a woody basal angiosperm from the family Magnoliaceae. In the current study, the phylogenesis, expression and protein-protein interaction (PPI) patterns, and functions of two AGL6 homologs from M. wufengensis, MawuAGL6-1 and MawuAGL6-2, were analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the two AGL6 duplicates may have arisen by gene duplication before the divergence of Magnoliaceae and Lauraceae, with the diversification of their expression and PPI patterns after gene duplication. Functional analysis revealed that, in addition to common functions in accelerating flowering, MawuAGL6-1 might be responsible for flower meristem determinacy, while MawuAGL6-2 is preferentially recruited to regulate tepal morphogenesis. These findings further advance our understanding of the evolution of phylogenesis, expression, interaction and functions of AGL6 lineage genes from basal angiosperms, as well as the entire AGL6 lineage genes, and the significance of AGL6 lineage genes in the evolution and biological diversity.

The Potential Health Benefits of Noni Juice: A Review of Human Intervention Studies.

Noni juice is a globally popular health beverage originating in the tropics. Traditional Tahitian healers believe the noni plant to be useful for a wide range of maladies, and noni juice consumers throughout the world have similar perceptions. Nevertheless, human clinical trials are necessary for a precise understanding of what the health benefits of noni juice are. A review of published human intervention studies suggests that noni juice may provide protection against tobacco smoke-induced DNA damage, blood lipid and homocysteine elevation as well as systemic inflammation. Human intervention studies also indicate that noni juice may improve joint health, increase physical endurance, increase immune activity, inhibit glycation of proteins, aid weight management, help maintain bone health in women, help maintain normal blood pressure, and improve gum health. Further, these studies point to notable antioxidant activity in noni juice, more so than other fruit juices which served as trial placebos. It is this antioxidant effect and its interaction with the immune system and inflammation pathways that may account for many of the observed health benefits of noni juice. However, the existing evidence does have some limitations as far as its general application to noni juice products; all the peer-reviewed human interventions studies to date have involved only one source of French Polynesian noni juice. Geographical factors and variations in processing methods are known to produce commercial noni juice products with divergent phytochemical and nutrient compositions. Therefore, other sources of noni products may have different toxicological and pharmacological profiles.

Iridoids are natural glycation inhibitors.

Glycation of amino acid residues in proteins leads to the eventual formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). AGE formation significantly influences human health and the aging process. AGE accumulation rates may be slowed by modifications to lifestyle or by pharmacological strategies. But the use of therapeutic drugs is not an appropriate means of controlling AGEs within the general population. However, phytochemical constituents in plant-based foods exhibit anti-glycation activities and may be more appropriate for general consumption. Among these phytochemicals are iridoids. The anti-AGE potential of iridoids has been demonstrated in vitro and in vivo, while also revealing possible mechanisms of action. Inclusion of iridoid food sources in the diet may be a useful component of strategies intended to mitigate AGE accumulation within the body.

Effect of Morinda citrifolia fruit extract and its iridoid glycosides on blood fluidity.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Morinda citrifolia fruit on blood fluidity. M. citrifolia fruit extract (MCF-ext) was investigated for its influence on blood aggregation and fibrinolysis. MCF-ext inhibited polybrene-induced erythrocyte aggregation and thrombin activity. The fibrinolytic activity of MCF-ext, in the euglobulin lysis time test and fibrin plate assay, is reported here for the first time. One of the active compounds was an iridoid glycoside, asperulosidic acid. The results indicated that MCF-ext is a potentially useful health food which is capable of improving blood flow and preventing lifestyle-related diseases.

Antiglycation Activity of Iridoids and Their Food Sources.

Iridoids are dietary phytochemicals that may have the ability to inhibit the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Three studies were conducted to investigate this anti-AGE potential. First, the inhibition of fluorescence intensity by food-derived iridoids, after 4 days of incubation with bovine serum albumin, glucose, and fructose, was used to evaluate in vitro antiglycation activity. Next, an 8-week open-label pilot study used the AGE Reader to measure changes in the skin autofluorescence of 34 overweight adults who consumed daily a beverage containing food sources of iridoids. Finally, a cross-sectional population study with 3913 people analyzed the relationship between daily iridoid intake and AGE accumulation, as measured by skin autofluorescence with the TruAge scanner. In the in vitro test, deacetylasperulosidic acid and loganic acid both inhibited glycation in a concentration-dependent manner, with respective IC50 values of 3.55 and 2.69 mM. In the pilot study, average skin autofluorescence measurements decreased by 0.12 units (P < 0.05). The cross-sectional population survey revealed that, for every mg of iridoids consumed, there is a corresponding decline in AGE associated age of 0.017 years (P < 0.0001). These results suggest that consumption of dietary sources of iridoids may be a useful antiaging strategy.

UPLC-TOF-MS Characterization and Identification of Bioactive Iridoids in Cornus mas Fruit.

Cornus mas L. is indigenous to Europe and parts of Asia. Although Cornus is widely considered to be an iridoid rich genera, only two iridoids have been previously found in this plant. The lack of information on taxonomically and biologically active iridoids prompted us to develop and optimize an analytical method for characterization of additional phytochemicals in C. mas fruit. An ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled with photodiode array spectrophotometry (PDA) and electrospray time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF-MS) was employed and mass parameters were optimized. Identification was made by elucidating the mass spectral data and further confirmed by comparing retention times and UV spectra of target peaks with those of reference compounds. Primary DNA damage and antigenotoxicity tests in E. coli PQ37 were used to screen the iridoids for biological activity. As a result, ten phytochemicals were identified, including iridoids loganic acid, loganin, sweroside, and cornuside. Nine of these were reported for the first time from C. mas fruit. The iridoids did not induce SOS repair of DNA, indicating a lack of genotoxic activity in E. coli PQ37. However, loganin, sweroside, and cornuside did reduce the amount of DNA damage caused by 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide, suggesting potential antigenotoxic activity.

Noni juice reduces lipid peroxidation-derived DNA adducts in heavy smokers.

Food plants provide important phytochemicals which help improve or maintain health through various biological activities, including antioxidant effects. Cigarette smoke-induced oxidative stress leads to the formation of lipid hydroperoxides (LOOHs) and their decomposition product malondialdehyde (MDA), both of which cause oxidative damage to DNA. Two hundred forty-five heavy cigarette smokers completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial designed to investigate the effect of noni juice on LOOH- and MDA-DNA adducts in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs). Volunteers drank noni juice or a fruit juice placebo every day for 1 month. DNA adducts were measured by (32)P postlabeling analysis. Drinking 29.5-118 mL of noni juice significantly reduced adducts by 44.6-57.4%. The placebo, which was devoid of iridoid glycosides, did not significantly influence LOOH- and MDA-DNA adduct levels in current smokers. Noni juice was able to mitigate oxidative damage of DNA in current heavy smokers, an activity associated with the presence of iridoids.

Noni juice improves serum lipid profiles and other risk markers in cigarette smokers.

Cigarette smoke-induced oxidative stress leads to dyslipidemia and systemic inflammation. Morinda citrifolia (noni) fruit juice has been found previously to have a significant antioxidant activity. One hundred thirty-two adult heavy smokers completed a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial designed to investigate the effect of noni juice on serum cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and homocysteine. Volunteers drank noni juice or a fruit juice placebo daily for one month. Drinking 29.5 mL to 188 mL of noni juice per day significantly reduced cholesterol levels, triglycerides, and hs-CRP. Decreases in LDL and homocysteine, as well increases in HDL, were also observed among noni juice drinkers. The placebo, which was devoid of iridoid glycosides, did not significantly influence blood lipid profiles or hs-CRP. Noni juice was able to mitigate cigarette smoke-induced dyslipidemia, an activity associated with the presence of iridoids.