Host proteins interact with viral elements and affect the life cycle of highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus H7N9.

Host-virus interactions can significantly impact the viral life cycle and pathogenesis; however, our understanding of the specific host factors involved in highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus H7N9 (HPAI H7N9) infection is currently restricted. Herein, we designed and synthesized 65 small interfering RNAs targeting host genes potentially associated with various aspects of RNA virus life cycles. Afterward, HPAI H7N9 viruses were isolated and RNA interference was used to screen for host factors likely to be involved in the life cycle of HPAI H7N9. Moreover, the research entailed assessing the associations between host proteins and HPAI H7N9 proteins. Twelve key host proteins were identified: Annexin A (ANXA)2, ANXA5, adaptor related protein complex 2 subunit sigma 1 (AP2S1), adaptor related protein complex 3 subunit sigma 1 (AP3S1), ATP synthase F1 subunit alpha (ATP5A1), COPI coat complex subunit alpha (COP)A, COPG1, heat shock protein family A (Hsp70) member 1A (HSPA)1A, HSPA8, heat shock protein 90 alpha family class A member 1 (HSP90AA1), RAB11B, and RAB18. Co-immunoprecipitation revealed intricate interactions between viral proteins (hemagglutinin, matrix 1 protein, neuraminidase, nucleoprotein, polymerase basic 1, and polymerase basic 2) and these host proteins, presumably playing a crucial role in modulating the life cycle of HPAI H7N9. Notably, ANXA5, AP2S1, AP3S1, ATP5A1, HSP90A1, and RAB18, were identified as novel interactors with HPAI H7N9 proteins rather than other influenza A viruses (IAVs). These findings underscore the significance of host-viral protein interactions in shaping the dynamics of HPAI H7N9 infection, while highlighting subtle variations compared with other IAVs. Deeper understanding of these interactions holds promise to advance disease treatment and prevention strategies.

Predicting Severity in Hypertriglyceridemia-Induced Acute Pancreatitis: The Role of Neutrophils, Calcium, and Apolipoproteins.

BACKGROUND Hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP), representing 10% of all acute pancreatitis cases, is characterized by younger onset age and more severe progression, often leading to higher ICU admission rates. This condition poses a significant challenge due to its rapid progression and the potential for severe complications, including multiple organ failure. HTG-AP is distinct from other forms of pancreatitis, such as those caused by cholelithiasis or alcohol, in terms of clinical presentation and outcomes. It's essential to identify early markers that can predict the severity of HTG-AP to improve patient management and outcomes. MATERIAL AND METHODS This study divided 127 HTG-AP patients into mild acute pancreatitis (MAP, n=71) and moderate-to-severe acute pancreatitis (MSAP/SAP, n=56) groups. Blood biological indicators within the first 24 hours of admission were analyzed. Risk factors for HTG-AP progression were determined using binary logistic regression and ROC curves. RESULTS Elevated levels of HCT, NLR, TBI, DBI, AST, Cre, and AMS were noted in the MSAP/SAP group, with lower levels of LYM, Na⁺, Ca²âº, ApoA, and ApoB compared to the MAP group (p<0.05). NEUT%, Ca²âº, ApoA, and ApoB were significantly linked with HTG-AP severity. Their combined ROC analysis yielded an area of 0.81, with a sensitivity of 61.8% and specificity of 90%. CONCLUSIONS NEUT%, Ca²âº, ApoA, and ApoB are significant risk factors for progressing to MSAP/SAP in HTG-AP. Their combined assessment provides a reliable predictive measure for early intervention in patients at risk of severe progression.

Stabilization of Pin1 by USP34 promotes Ubc9 isomerization and protein sumoylation in glioma stem cells.

The peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase Pin1 is a pivotal therapeutic target in cancers, but the regulation of Pin1 protein stability is largely unknown. High Pin1 expression is associated with SUMO1-modified protein hypersumoylation in glioma stem cells (GSCs), but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here we demonstrate that Pin1 is deubiquitinated and stabilized by USP34, which promotes isomerization of the sole SUMO E2 enzyme Ubc9, leading to SUMO1-modified hypersumoylation to support GSC maintenance. Pin1 interacts with USP34, a deubiquitinase with preferential expression and oncogenic function in GSCs. Such interaction is facilitated by Plk1-mediated phosphorylation of Pin1. Disruption of USP34 or inhibition of Plk1 promotes poly-ubiquitination and degradation of Pin1. Furthermore, Pin1 isomerizes Ubc9 to upregulate Ubc9 thioester formation with SUMO1, which requires CDK1-mediated phosphorylation of Ubc9. Combined inhibition of Pin1 and CDK1 with sulfopin and RO3306 most effectively suppresses orthotopic tumor growth. Our findings provide multiple molecular targets to induce Pin1 degradation and suppress hypersumoylation for cancer treatment.

Selective Phytotoxic Effects of Sesquiterpenoids from Sonchus arvensis as a Preliminary Approach for the Biocontrol of Two Problematic Weeds of Wheat.

The objective of this study is to find new selective allelochemicals for managing two problematic weeds redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus) and common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album) with minimal negative effects on wheat, thereby facilitating the development of eco-friendly botanical herbicide. Three new sesquiterpenoids, sonarvenolide A-C (1-3), and nine known sesquiterpenoids (4-12) were isolated from Sonchus arvensis. Compound 1 was a rare peroxide-substituted eudesmane-type sesquiterpenoid, and compound 3 was a rare iphionane-type sesquiterpenoid. Notably, compounds 1, 3, 4, 6-8, and 11 showed selectivity phytotoxic activity. In particular, compounds 1, 3, and 4 exhibited excellent germination inhibitory effect on A. retroflexus (IC50 = 32.0-129.0 µM), higher than that of the positive control triasulfuron (IC50 = 141.7 µM), and compound 4 showed excellent inhibition on C. album (IC50 = 82.0 µM), higher than that of triasulfuron (IC50 = 100.9 µM). In addition, compounds 1, 3, and 4 showed allelopathy to the growth of two weeds, which were more potent than or close to that of triasulfuron. Furthermore, these compounds were not toxic to wheat even at a high concentration (1000 µM). Structure-activity relationships (SARs) revealed that the presence of peroxides or the absence of hydroxyl at C-5 in the eudesmane-type sesquiterpenoids could strengthen the inhibitory activities. The discovery of selective allelochemicals provides not only a new choice to control two problematic weeds of wheat but also new natural lead compounds for herbicides.

Spatial region-resolved proteome map reveals mechanism of COVID-19-associated heart injury.

Direct myocardial and vascular injuries due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection-driven inflammation is the leading cause of acute cardiac injury associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, in-depth knowledge of the injury characteristics of the heart affected by inflammation is lacking. In this study, using a quantitative spatial proteomics strategy that combines comparative anatomy, laser-capture microdissection, and histological examination, we establish a region-resolved proteome map of the myocardia and microvessels with obvious inflammatory cells from hearts of patients with COVID-19. A series of molecular dysfunctions of myocardia and microvessels is observed in different cardiac regions. The myocardia and microvessels of the left atrial are the most susceptible to virus infection and inflammatory storm, suggesting more attention should be paid to the lesion and treatment of these two parts. These results can guide in improving clinical treatments for cardiovascular diseases associated with COVID-19.

BCOR-CCNB3 sarcoma with concurrent RNF213-SLC26A11 gene fusion: a rare sarcoma with altered histopathological features after chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy is a common approach for cancer treatment, but intrinsic genetic mutations in different individuals may cause different responses to chemotherapy, resulting in unique histopathological changes. The genetic mutation along with the distinct histopathological features may indicate new tumor entities. BCOR-CCNB3 sarcomas is a kind of Ewing-like sarcomas (ELS) occurring mostly in bone and soft tissues. No gene fusion other than BCOR-CCNB3 has been found in this type of tumor. CASE PRESENTATION: We herein report a case of 17-year-old male patient, presented with a mass on his left shoulder that was diagnosed as undifferentiated small round cell sarcoma according to core biopsy. The patient received 5 courses of preoperational chemotherapy, and the tumor was resected and analyzed. Primitive small round cells and larger myoid cells in the resected tumor tissue but not in biopsy were observed, and arterioles stenosis and occlusion were also detected, indicating a dramatic change of histopathological features of this tumor. In addition, the immunohistochemical results showed the altered staining patterns of BCOR, bcl2, CyclinD1, TLE1, AR, SMA, CD117, STAB2, CD56, and CD99 in tumor tissues after chemotherapy. Notably, RNA sequencing revealed a RNF213-SLC26A11 fusion in the tumor sample. CONCLUSIONS: The BCOR-CCNB3 sarcoma with RNF213-SLC26A11 fusion may indicate a subset of tumors that undergo histopathological changes in response to chemotherapy. More similar cases in the future may help to clarify the clinical meanings of RNF213-SLC26A11 fusion in BCOR-CCNB3 sarcomas and the underlying mechanisms.

The Relationship Between the Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio, The Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratio, and Cardiac Syndrome X.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the relationship between the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), the platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and cardiac syndrome X (CSX). Methods: A total of 102 patients with CSX who were hospitalized in the Cardiology Department of our hospital from December 2018 to December 2020 were enrolled in the CSX group, and 102 subjects who underwent physical examinations during the same period were included in the control group. An automatic blood cell analyzer was adopted to detect the neutrophil count (NC), lymphocyte count (LC), and number of platelets (PLT) in the whole blood of the subjects in both groups, and the NLR and PLR were calculated. Electrocardiography was conducted on the subjects in both groups to detect whether any abnormality existed in the ST segment. The receiver operating curve (ROC) was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of each indicator of CSX, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was adopted for the analysis of the influencing factors. Results: No significant differences existed in age, gender, smoking history, or family history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and tumors between the two groups (p > 0.05). When compared with the control group, the NC, PLT, NLR, PLR, and rate of abnormality of the ST segment on the electrocardiogram were significantly higher, and the LC was significantly lower in the CSX group (p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the ST-segment abnormality (3.95 [2.10~7.41]; NLR > 2.21, 3.46 [1.87~6.39]; and PLR > 119.77, 3.66 [1.99~6.73]) was a correlated risk factor for the occurrence of CSX (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Both the NLR and PLR in patients with CSX were significantly elevated, and both have a certain predictive value for the occurrence of CSX and are expected to be effective biomarkers for CSX.

The Expression of miR-365 in Serum of Hypertension Patients with Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Was Up-Regulated, Which Was Positively Correlated with Left Ventricular Mass Index.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to investigate micro ribonucleic acid-365 (miR-365) serum expression and its correlation with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in patients with hypertension (HT). METHODS: Eighty-four patients were selected as study subjects and divided into three groups: the experimental group (n = 28), the observation group (n = 29), and the control group (n = 27). The experimental group included patients with LVH-accompanied HT who were treated in the People's Hospital of Hebei Province between November 2019 and November 2020, the observation group included patients with HT unaccompanied by LVH, and the control group included healthy age and gender-matched subjects who underwent health examinations in our physical examination center. The cardiac echocardiography, 24-h Holter electrocardiogram, and circulating miR-365 levels in all subjects were measured. The differences in circulating miR-365 expression levels among the three groups were compared, and the correlations between the miR-365 expression levels and the blood pressure parameters (24-h mean systolic blood pressure [SBP] and 24-h mean diastolic blood pressure [DBP]), inter-ventricular septal thickness (IVST), left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPWT), left ventricular internal diameter (LVID), left ventricular mass (LVM), LVM index (LVMI), and LVH-related indicators were analyzed. RESULTS: The relative miR-365 expressions in the experimental, observation, and control groups were 2.08 (1.60, 2.34), 0.62 (0.44, 0.83), and 0.66 (0.35, 0.86), respectively. Patient miR-365 expression was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the observation group and the control group; the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.000). Furthermore, miR-365 expression was significantly correlated with SBP, DBP, IVST, LVPWT, LVID, LVM, and LVMI; the greatest correlation was with LVMI. Further univariate linear regression analysis revealed that miR-365 expression was linearly and positively correlated with LVMI and that miRNA-365 expression increased with the LVMI value. CONCLUSION: The miR-365 serum expression in patients with LVH-accompanied HT was increased compared with the observation group and the control group and positively correlated with the LVH degree.

A cohort autopsy study defines COVID-19 systemic pathogenesis.

Severe COVID-19 disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 is frequently accompanied by dysfunction of the lungs and extrapulmonary organs. However, the organotropism of SARS-CoV-2 and the port of virus entry for systemic dissemination remain largely unknown. We profiled 26 COVID-19 autopsy cases from four cohorts in Wuhan, China, and determined the systemic distribution of SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 was detected in the lungs and multiple extrapulmonary organs of critically ill COVID-19 patients up to 67 days after symptom onset. Based on organotropism and pathological features of the patients, COVID-19 was divided into viral intrapulmonary and systemic subtypes. In patients with systemic viral distribution, SARS-CoV-2 was detected in monocytes, macrophages, and vascular endothelia at blood-air barrier, blood-testis barrier, and filtration barrier. Critically ill patients with long disease duration showed decreased pulmonary cell proliferation, reduced viral RNA, and marked fibrosis in the lungs. Permanent SARS-CoV-2 presence and tissue injuries in the lungs and extrapulmonary organs suggest direct viral invasion as a mechanism of pathogenicity in critically ill patients. SARS-CoV-2 may hijack monocytes, macrophages, and vascular endothelia at physiological barriers as the ports of entry for systemic dissemination. Our study thus delineates systemic pathological features of SARS-CoV-2 infection, which sheds light on the development of novel COVID-19 treatment.

A case of desmoplastic myxoid tumor, SMARCB1 mutant, in the pineal region.

Desmoplastic myxoid tumor (DMT), SMARCB1 mutant is a recently proposed new entity that mainly occurs in the pineal region and has epigenetic features similar to those of atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors (AT/RT)-MYC and poorly differentiated chordomas. Herein, we present a new case of a 33-year-old man with headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and blurred vision, who was initially found to have a suspicious germinoma on imaging. After surgical removal of the lesion, the postoperative pathological diagnosis was DMT, SMARCB1 mutant. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case reported in China. Our findings also extend the range of the immunohistochemical phenotype of this rare tumor.

Combination of serum TIMP-3, CA125, and NT-proBNP in predicting ventricular remodeling in patients with heart failure following acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular remodeling is the basic pathological mechanism of heart failure following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Determining sensitive indexes for the early prediction of ventricular remodeling is important for the prevention of heart failure. This study aims to investigate the value of serum TIMP-3, CA125, and NT-proBNP in predicting ventricular remodeling in patients with heart failure following AMI. METHODS: From May 2017 to May 2018, 93 patients with heart failure following AMI were enrolled in the study. The participants were divided into two groups: the ventricular remodeling group (n=51) and the non-ventricular remodeling group (n=42). In addition, 47 healthy subjects who underwent physical examinations in the same period were enrolled as controls. Serum TIMP-3, CA125, and NT-proBNP were measured, in addition to the left ventricular wall thickness (LVWT) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI). The correlation of serum TIMP-3, CA125, and NT-proBNP with the LVWT and LVMI was analyzed, and its value in predicting ventricular remodeling was evaluated. RESULTS: Serum TIMP-3 level was lower (P<0.05) and CA125 and NT-proBNP levels were higher (P<0.05) in both the ventricular remodeling and non-ventricular remodeling groups compared with the control group. Furthermore, the serum TIMP-3 level was lower in the ventricular remodeling group compared with the non-ventricular remodeling group (P<0.05), while the levels of CA125 and NT-proBNP were higher in the ventricular remodeling group compared with the non-ventricular remodeling group (P<0.05). The serum TIMP-3 level was negatively correlated with the LVWT and LVMI, while serum CA125 and NT-proBNP levels were positively correlated with the LVWT and LVMI, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the combination of serum TIMP-3, CA125, and NT-proBNP levels in predicting ventricular remodeling was 0.850, and the prediction sensitivity and specificity were 74.51% and 87.71%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of serum TIMP-3, CA125, and NT-proBNP can improve the sensitivity and specificity of predicting ventricular remodeling and can aid in the early prevention and treatment of heart failure.

Novel Bithiophene Dimers from Echinops latifolius as Potential Antifungal and Nematicidal Agents.

Three novel dimeric bithiophenes, echinbithiophenedimers A-C (1-3), along with two known thiophenes, 4 and 5, were obtained from Echinops latifolius, and their structures were identified through extensive spectroscopic analysis and electronic circular dichroism calculations. Compounds 1-3 possessed new carbon skeletons; they are dimeric bithiophenes with 1 and 2 featuring an unprecedented 1,3-dioxolane ring system and 3 featuring an unusual 1,4-dioxane ring. These compounds are the first examples of bithiophene dimers furnished by different cyclic diethers. Dimeric bithiophenes 1-3 had good antifungal activities against five phytopathogenic fungi, and compound 3 showed excellent activity against Alternaria alternate and Pyricularia oryzae, with a minimal inhibitory concentration value of 8 µg/mL, which was close to or higher than that of carbendazim. Moreover, its effect on the mycelial morphology was observed by scanning electron microscopy. Compounds 1-3, which were demonstrated to be nonphototoxic thiophenes, exhibited better nematicidal activity than the commercial nematicide ethoprophos against Meloidogyne incognita. This study revealed that dimeric bithiophenes containing 1,3-dioxolane or 1,4-dioxane rings could be used as novel antifungal and nematicidal agents for controlling plant fungal and nematode pathogens.

Constituents Leached by Tomato Seeds Regulate the Behavior of Root-Knot Nematodes and Their Antifungal Effects against Seed-Borne Fungi.

Germinating seeds can release diverse phytochemicals that repel, inhibit, or kill pathogens such as root-knot nematodes and seed-borne fungi. However, little is known about the composition of these phytochemicals and their effects on pathogens. In this study, we demonstrated that tomato seed exudates can attract the nematode Meloidogyne incognita using a dual-choice assay. Eighteen compounds were then isolated and identified from the exudates. Of these, esters (1-3), fatty acids (4-6), and phenolic acids (10-12) were proven to be the signaling molecules that facilitated the host-seeking process of second-stage juveniles (J2s) of nematodes, while alkaloids (17 and 18) disrupted J2s in locating their host. Furthermore, some phenolic acids and alkaloids showed antifungal effects against seed-borne fungi. In particular, ferulic acid (12) showed obvious activity against Aspergillus flavus (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), 32 µg/mL), while dihydrocapsaicin (17) showed noticeable activity against Fusarium oxysporum (MIC, 16 µg/mL). Overall, this study presents the first evidence that M. incognita can be attracted to or deterred by various compounds in seed exudates through identification of the structures of the compounds in the exudates and analysis of their effects on nematodes. Furthermore, some antifungal compounds were also found. The findings of this work suggest that seed exudates are new source for finding insights into the development of plant protective substances with nematocidal and antifungal effects.

High level of H3K4 tri-methylation modification predicts poor prognosis in esophageal cancer.

Objectives: An increase in the trimethylation of lysine 4 of histone 3 (H3K4me3) has been reported to be involved in the development of several types of tumors. However, the level and role of H3K4me3 in human esophageal cancer (HEC) remain unknown. Here, we assessed the role and clinical significance of H3K4me3 in HEC. Methods: The level of H3K4me3 was determined in 15 pairs of HEC and paracancerous tissues by Western blotting. A tissue microarray including samples from 100 HEC patients was analyzed by immunohistochemistry to determine the relationship between the level of H3K4me3 and the clinicopathological features of HEC patients. Then, the levels of H3K4me3 in HEC cells were elevated via knockdown of inhibitor of growth family member 4(Ing4) expression. Finally, the prognostic significance of H3K4me3 levels in HEC patients was further analyzed. Results: We found that H3K4me3 levels were frequently elevated in HEC tissues compared with adjacent esophageal tissues, and elevated H3K4me3 was significantly associated with poor tumor differentiation (p =1.39×10-5) and advanced tumor stage (p=8.5×10-5). After Ing4 knockdown in HEC cells, we found that the cell proliferation, metastasis, invasion and colony formation abilities were enhanced compared to those in the control cells. Notably, we found that HEC patients with a high level of H3K4me3 exhibited an unfavorable 5-year survival rate compared to those with a low level of H3K4me3 (p=6.8×10-5). The univariate analysis showed that the tumor differentiation, TNM stage, and H3K4me3 level were predictors of the overall survival rate of HEC patients. In the multivariate analysis, tumor stage (p=0.015) and H3K4me3 level (p=0.034) were revealed to be independent parameters for predicting the prognosis of HEC patients. Conclusions: Thus, high levels of H3K4me3 may be used as a meaningful biomarker for HEC prognosis evaluation.

Novel pathogenic characteristics of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H7N9: viraemia and extrapulmonary infection.

The H7N9 virus mutated in 2017, resulting in new cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H7N9 virus infection. H7N9 was found in a viraemic patient in Guangdong province, China. The present study aimed to clarify the pathogenic characteristics of HPAI H7N9. Virus was isolated from the plasma and sputum of the patient with HPAI H7N9. Liquid phase chip technology was used to detect the plasma cytokines from the infected patient and healthy controls. Mice were infected with strains A/Guangdong/GZ8H002/2017(H7N9) and A/Zhejiang/DTID-ZJU01/2013(H7N9) to observe the virus's pathogenic characteristics. Serum and brain tissue were collected at 2, 4, and 6 days after infection. The viruses in serum and brain tissue were detected and isolated. The two strains were infected into A549 cells, exosomes were extracted, and virus genes in the exosomes were assessed. Live virus was isolated from the patient's plasma. An acute cytokine storm was detected during the whole course of the disease. In animal experiments, A/Guangdong/GZ8H002/2017(H7N9) was more pathogenic than A/Zhejiang /DTID-ZJU01/2013(H7N9) and resulted in the death of mice. Live virus was isolated from infected mouse serum. Virus infection was also detected in the brain of mice. Under viral stress, A549 cells secreted exosomes containing the entire viral genome. The viraemic patient was confirmed to have an HPAI H7N9 infection. A/Guangdong/GZ8H002/2017(H7N9) showed significantly enhanced toxicity. Patient deaths might result from cytokine storms and brain infections. Extrapulmonary tissue infection might occur via the exosome pathway. The determined pathogenic characteristics of HPAI H7N9 will contribute to its future treatment.

Research progress of CA125 and BDNF in serum of patients with acute myocardial infarction for predicting acute heart failure.

BACKGROUND: At present, the treatment for acute myocardial infarction has achieved great progress. Reperfusion therapy in the short term can effectively reduce recurrence rates and mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction. According to a report of a large national registry, the mortality of patients with acute coronary syndrome combined with acute heart failure is 10 times of that of patients without heart failure, and the mortality in nearly 10 years has no significant change. Therefore, people are constantly exploring indicators for acute heart failure prognosis to improve a patient's prognosis. With the constant understanding and exploration of acute myocardial infarction, more and more researches have focused in determining how to predict the occurrence of acute heart failure. The present study focuses on presenting the latest progress of Carbohydrate Antigen-125 (CA125) and Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in serum of patients with acute myocardial infarction in predicting acute heart failure.

[Effects of girdling and defoliation on the growth of female cones and branches and nutrient content in different tissues and organs of Pinus koraiensis.] / çŽ¯å‰¥å’ŒåŽ»å¶å¯¹çº¢æ¾é›Œçƒæžœå’Œæžç”Ÿé•¿åŠä¸åŒç»„ç»‡å’Œå™¨å®˜ä¸­å »åˆ†å«é‡çš„å½±å“.

To explore the nutrient source and supply-demand relationship of the female cone deve-lopment and new shoot growth of Pinus koraiensis, reproductive mother branches were experimentally girdled, defoliated, and under the combination of both treatments. The effects of different treatments on the female cones development, branch growth and the content of carbohydrate (NSC), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in different tissues and organs were measured. The results showed that girdling significantly affected female cone development, new shoot growth, and the contents of NSC, N and P in different tissues and organs, while defoliation treatment had limited effect. The NSC content in the mother branch xylem and phloem after girdling were significantly lower than that of the control (CK, ungirdling+0% defoliation), and decreased significantly with the increases of the degree of defoliation. The NSC content in mother branch xylem and phloem of girdling+100% defoliation was 59.0% and 64.8% lower than that of CK, respectively. The deficiency of NSC resulted in the death of mother branches and new shoots and the abortion of female cone. Under girdling treatment, the contents of N and P in xylem and phloem of mother branches of 0%, 50% and 100% defoliation treatment were significantly higher than that of CK. The contents of N and P in xylem of mother branches were 17.3%, 18.2% and 24.3% and 17.9%, 7.1% and 3.6% higher than those of CK, respectively. The contents of N and P in phloem of mother branches was 39.3%, 35.2% and 48.9% and 31.0%, 28.2% and 14.8% higher than those of CK, respectively. The female cone development and new shoot growth of P. koraiensis consumed a large amount of NSC, N and P. The carbohydrates and mineral nutrients manufactured or stored in the mother branches could not meet the needs of female cone development and new shoot growth, and thus they need to be imported from other tissues.