The effects of meliponicultural use of Tetragonula laeviceps on other bee pollinators and pollination efficacy of lemon.

The augmentation of pollination success in lemon (Citrus limon Eureka) flowers remains contingent on the involvement of bee pollinators. With wild bee pollinator populations declining in agroecosystems, meliponiculture has emerged as a potential option in Indonesia. This study aimed to investigate the effects of meliponicultural use of Tetragonula laeviceps on diversity, foraging behavior, and monthly population of bee pollinators, as well as lemon pollination efficacy with and without meliponiculture treatment during two periods. Using scan and focal sampling methods in first and second periods, the study found that the diversity of wild bee pollinators was six species (Apis cerana, Lasioglossum albescens, Megachile laticeps, Xylocopa confusa, Xylocopa latipes, and Xylocopa caerulea), and T. laeviceps when using meliponiculture. The relative abundance and daily foraging activity of wild bee pollinators were initially reduced in the first period (March-June) and then maintained in the second period (July-October). T. laeviceps foraged on the flowers, involving specific sequences for 72 s with highest visitation rate of 0.25 flowers/h from 10:00-13:00. Light intensity was observed to be the most influential factor for bee pollinator density. Pollination efficacy results showed that meliponiculture usage has greater benefit compared to meliponiculture absence across various parameters, including fruit sets, fruit weight, yield, and estimated productivity. The effects of meliponicultural use of T. laeviceps can enhance lemon pollination efficacy while preserving the diversity of wild insect pollinators. This suggests that meliponiculture stingless bees could be a beneficial practice in agroecosystems, especially in tropical regions where wild bee populations and diversity are declining.

Progressive alterations in mineral contents in citrus genotypes toward Alternaria citri causing brown spot of citrus.

Brown spot of citrus caused by Alternaria citri is one of the emerging threats to the successful production of citrus crops. The present study, conducted with a substantial sample size of 50 leaf samples for statistical reliability, aimed to determine the change in mineral content in citrus leaves after brown spot disease attack. Leaf samples from a diverse range of susceptible citrus varieties (Valentia late, Washington navel, and Kinnow) and resistant varieties (Citron, Eruka lemon, and Mayer lemon) were analyzed. Significant variations (p ≤ 0.05) in mineral contents were observed across reaction groups (inoculated and un-inoculated), types (resistant and susceptible), and varieties of citrus in response to infection of Alternaria citri. The analysis of variance showed significant changes in mineral levels of citrus leaves, including nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), sodium (Na), iron (Fe), and copper (Cu). The results indicate that the concentration of N and P differed by 6.63% and 1.44%, respectively, in resistant plants, while susceptible plants showed a difference of 6.07% and 1.19%. Moreover, resistant plants showed a higher concentrations of K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Na, Fe, and Cu at 8.40, 2.1, 1.83, 2.21, 1.58, 2.89, and 0.36 ppm respectively, compared to susceptible plants which showed concentrations of 5.99, 1.93, 1.47, 1.09, 1.24, 1.81, and 0.31 ppm respectively. Amounts of mineral contents were reduced in both resistant as well as susceptible plants of citrus after inoculation. Amount of N (8.56), P (1.87) % while K (10.74), Ca (2.71), Mg (2.62), Zn (2.20), Na (2.08), Fe (3.57) and Cu (0.20) ppm were recorded in un-inoculated group of citrus plants that reduced to 3.15 and 0.76% and 3.66, 1.40, 0.63,0.42, 0.74, 1.13 and 0.13 ppm in inoculated group respectively. It was accomplished that susceptible varieties contained lower ionic contents than resistant varieties. The higher concentrations of ionic contents in resistant citrus varieties build up the biochemical and physiological processes of the citrus plant, which help to restrict spread of pathogens. Further research could explore the interplay between mineral nutrition and disease resistance in citrus, potentially leading to the development of new disease-resistant varieties.

Ca-doped ZnO nanoparticles for MB dye degradation and adsorptive removal of tinidazole.

Industrial dye degradation involves several processes by which dyes are broken down, ideally into innocuous products. Methylene blue (MB) is one of the most commonly employed dyes in the textile industry and is released into water in routine industry processes. These discharges lead to creating a nocuous nature for humans and animals. Drugs are also discharged into water bodies from various pharmaceutical industries. In these two contexts, in the present work, the green synthesis of calcium-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles (Ca-doped ZnO NPs) is achieved using the aqueous peel extract of Citrus limetta by the solution combustion technique. The structural, morphological, and optical properties of the synthesized Ca-doped ZnO NPs are investigated using XRD, FTIR, SEM, EDX, and UV-visible spectroscopy. The prepared NPs were subjected to photocatalytic degradation of MB dye under visible-light illumination, which shows ~ 95% dye degradation. The synthesized Ca-doped ZnO NPs were also employed to adsorb tinidazole (TDZ), a nitroimidazole antibiotic, from water samples. An excellent adsorptive capacity of the NPs was observed for selectively adsorbing the TDZ ~ 96.2%. The drug TDZ was found to have pseudo-second-order kinetics. The catalyst recycling proved its repeatability; removal of the dye reached up to 92% after three successive usages. Therefore, using waste Citrus limetta peel extract, the multifunctional Ca-doped ZnO NPs were synthesized, which maintained effective adsorption potential and photocatalytic abilities and could be used as an effective material for environmental remediation.

Genome-wide identification, expression analysis of WRKY transcription factors in Citrus ichangensis and functional validation of CiWRKY31 in response to cold stress.

BACKGROUND: Ichang papeda (Citrus ichangensis), a wild perennial plant of the Rutaceae family, is a cold-hardy plant. WRKY transcription factors are crucial regulators of plant growth and development as well as abiotic stress responses. However, the WRKY genes in C. ichangensis (CiWRKY) and their expression patterns under cold stress have not been thoroughly investigated, hindering our understanding of their role in cold tolerance. RESULTS: In this study, a total of 52 CiWRKY genes identified in the genome of C. ichangensis were classified into three main groups and five subgroups based on phylogenetic analysis. Comprehensive analyses of motif features, conserved domains, and gene structures were performed. Segmental duplication plays a significant role in the CiWRKY gene family expansion. Cis-acting element analysis revealed the presence of various stress-responsive elements in the promoters of the majority of CiWRKYs. Gene ontology (GO) analysis and protein-protein interaction predictions indicate that the CiWRKYs exhibit crucial roles in regulation of both development and stress response. Expression profiling analysis demonstrates that 14 CiWRKYs were substantially induced under cold stress. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) assay confirmed that CiWRKY31, one of the cold-induced WRKYs, functions positively in regulation of cold tolerance. CONCLUSION: Sequence and protein properties of CiWRKYs were systematically analyzed. Among the 52 CiWRKY genes 14 members exhibited cold-responsive expression patterns, and CiWRKY31 was verified to be a positive regulator of cold tolerance. These findings pave way for future investigations to understand the molecular functions of CiWRKYs in cold tolerance and contribute to unravelling WRKYs that may be used for engineering cold tolerance in citrus.

Reduced Insulin Resistance and Oxidative Stress in a Mouse Model of Metabolic Syndrome following Twelve Weeks of Citrus Bioflavonoid Hesperidin Supplementation: A Dose-Response Study.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities affecting ~25% of adults and is linked to chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. Oxidative stress and inflammation are key drivers of MetS. Hesperidin, a citrus bioflavonoid, has demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties; however, its effects on MetS are not fully established. We aimed to determine the optimal dose of hesperidin required to improve oxidative stress, systemic inflammation, and glycemic control in a novel mouse model of MetS. Male 5-week-old C57BL/6 mice were fed a high-fat, high-salt, high-sugar diet (HFSS; 42% kcal fat content in food and drinking water with 0.9% saline and 10% high fructose corn syrup) for 16 weeks. After 6 weeks of HFSS, mice were randomly allocated to either the placebo group or low- (70 mg/kg/day), mid- (140 mg/kg/day), or high-dose (280 mg/kg/day) hesperidin supplementation for 12 weeks. The HFSS diet induced significant metabolic disturbances. HFSS + placebo mice gained almost twice the weight of control mice (p < 0.0001). Fasting blood glucose (FBG) increased by 40% (p < 0.0001), plasma insulin by 100% (p < 0.05), and HOMA-IR by 150% (p < 0.0004), indicating insulin resistance. Hesperidin supplementation reduced plasma insulin by 40% at 140 mg/kg/day (p < 0.0001) and 50% at 280 mg/kg/day (p < 0.005). HOMA-IR decreased by 45% at both doses (p < 0.0001). Plasma hesperidin levels significantly increased in all hesperidin groups (p < 0.0001). Oxidative stress, measured by 8-OHdG, was increased by 40% in HFSS diet mice (p < 0.001) and reduced by 20% with all hesperidin doses (p < 0.005). In conclusion, hesperidin supplementation reduced insulin resistance and oxidative stress in HFSS-fed mice, demonstrating its dose-dependent therapeutic potential in MetS.

Genetic Identification of Medicinal Citrus Cultivar 'Local Juhong' Using Molecular Markers and Genomics.

The citrus cultivar 'Local Juhong', which has historically been used as a traditional Chinese medicinal material, originated in Yuanjiang County, Hunan Province.Its parental type and genetic background are indistinct as of yet. Morphological observation shows that 'Local Juhong' has a slight oblateness in fruit shape, a relatively smooth pericarp, a fine and slightly raised oil vacuole, and an inward concave at the blossom end. The tree form and fruit and leaf morphology of 'Local Juhong' are similar to those of 'Huangpi' sour orange. To reveal the genetic background of 'Local Juhong', 21 citrus accessions were evaluated using nuclear and chloroplast SSR markers and whole-genome SNP information. 'Local Juhong' was grouped with mandarins and sub-grouped with 'Miyagawa Wase' and 'Yanxi Wanlu' in a nuclear SSR analysis, which indicated that its pollen parent might be mandarins. It was closely clustered with orange and pummelo in the chloroplast SSR analysis. The genomic sequence similarity rate of 'Local Juhong' with mandarin and pummelo heterozygosity was 70.88%; the main part was the heterozygosity, except for the unknown (19.66%), mandarin (8.73%), and pummelo (3.9%) parts. Thus, 'Local Juhong' may be an F1 hybrid with pummelo as the female parent and mandarin as the male parent, sharing sisterhood with 'Huangpi' sour orange.

A limited concentration range of diaphorin, a polyketide produced by a bacterial symbiont of the Asian citrus psyllid, promotes the in vitro gene expression with bacterial ribosomes.

Diaphorin is a polyketide produced by "Candidatus Profftella armatura" (Gammaproteobacteria: Burkholderiales), an obligate symbiont of a devastating agricultural pest, the Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae). Physiological concentrations of diaphorin, which D. citri contains at levels as high as 2-20 mM, are inhibitory to various eukaryotes and Bacillus subtilis (Firmicutes: Bacilli) but promote the growth and metabolic activity of Escherichia coli (Gammaproteobacteria: Enterobacterales). Our previous study demonstrated that 5-mM diaphorin, which exhibits significant inhibitory and promoting effects on cultured B. subtilis and E. coli, respectively, inhibits in vitro gene expression utilizing purified B. subtilis and E. coli ribosomes. This suggested that the adverse effects of diaphorin on B. subtilis are partly due to its influence on gene expression. However, the result appeared inconsistent with the positive impact on E. coli. Moreover, the diaphorin concentration in bacterial cells, where genes are expressed in vivo, may be lower than in culture media. Therefore, the present study analyzed the effects of 50 and 500 µM of diaphorin on bacterial gene expression using the same analytical method. The result revealed that this concentration range of diaphorin, in contrast to 5-mM diaphorin, promotes the in vitro translation with the B. subtilis and E. coli ribosomes, suggesting that the positive effects of diaphorin on E. coli are due to its direct effects on translation. This study demonstrated for the first time that a pederin-type compound promotes gene expression, establishing a basis for utilizing its potential in pest management and industrial applications.IMPORTANCEThis study revealed that a limited concentration range of diaphorin, a secondary metabolite produced by a bacterial symbiont of an agricultural pest, promotes cell-free gene expression utilizing substrates and proteins purified from bacteria. The unique property of diaphorin, which is inhibitory to various eukaryotes and Bacillus subtilis but promotes the growth and metabolic activity of Escherichia coli, may affect the microbial flora of the pest insect, potentially influencing the transmission of devastating plant pathogens. Moreover, the activity may be exploited to improve the efficacy of industrial production by E. coli, which is often used to produce various important materials, including pharmaceuticals, enzymes, amino acids, and biofuels. This study elucidated a part of the mechanism by which the unique activity of diaphorin is expressed, constructing a foundation for applying the distinct property to pest management and industrial use.

Molecular-Sensory Decoding of the Citrus latifolia Aroma.

A modified aroma extract dilution approach (AEDA), followed by the determination of flavor dilution (FD) factors, a quantitative analysis and calculation of the relative flavor activity (RFA) and odor activity values (OAVs) as well as recombination experiments were conducted to evaluate the odor- and taste-relevant components of cold-pressed Citrus latifolia peel oil. A 2-fold concentration by distillation and reanalysis, compared with the original oil, revealed relevant components. Partition of the odor-active substances into four reconstitution groups according to their respective FD factors, followed by a recombination, allowed for a better understanding of the contribution of each FD-factor group to the overall aroma. Especially α-pinene, limonene, γ-terpinene, and 7-methoxycoumarin contribute significantly to the distinct aroma profile of C. latifolia. Heptadecanal (CAS 629-90-3) was described for the first time as an odor-active substance in an enriched C. latifolia peel oil. Campherenyl acetate (CAS 18530-07-9) was identified in nature for the first time and described with a herbal, minty and citrus-like odor. The odor profile of the final recombinant mixture, containing 36 components, was similar to cold-pressed C. latifolia peel oil for most descriptors, whereas the taste profile was described as more aldehydic and citral-like.

One stone, two birds: An eco-friendly aerogel based on waste pomelo peel cellulose for the efficient adsorption of dyes and heavy metal ions.

To achieve the objective of "waste control by waste", in this study, a green aerogel adsorbent comprised of pomelo-peel cellulose and sodium alginate (PCC/SA) was prepared through dual-network crosslinking. The resulting 3D hierarchical porous structured PCC/SA aerogel exhibited good structural stability, and kept the morphological integrity during 10 days in a wide pH range (2-10), suggesting its potential for recycling in diverse complex environments. Besides, the superior adsorption capacities for methylene blue (MB) and Cu(II) were observed, with the qm values and adsorption equilibrium times were recorded to be 1299.59 mg/g (300 min) and 287.55 mg/g (120 min), correspondingly. Furthermore, the favorable reusability of the PCC/SA aerogel was also demonstrated, with the removal efficiency for MB remaining almost unchanged (about 94 %) after 10 adsorption-desorption cycles, while there was a slight reduction for Cu(II) from 85.28 % to 72.47 %. XPS and FTIR analysis revealed that electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bonding, cation exchange and coordination were the major adsorption mechanisms. Importantly, the PCC/SA aerogel can be naturally degraded in soil within 10 weeks. Therefore, the as-prepared aerogel bead derived from pomelo peel shows great promise as an adsorbent for wastewater treatment containing dye and heavy metal ions.

Application of edible nanocomposites from chitosan/fenugreek seed mucilage/selenium nanoparticles for protecting lemon from green mold.

Green (Penicillium digitatum) mold can severely endanger the citrus fruits production and quality. Targeting the protection of lemon fruits from green mold infestations with nanobiotechnology approach, the fenugreek seed mucilage (FM) was extracted and exploited for biosynthesis of selenium (SeNPs) nanoparticles; their nanocomposites (NCs) with chitosan (CT) was constructed and employed as antifungal materials and edible coating (ECs) to protect lemon fruits against green mold. The nanoparticles formation and conjugations were verified by infrared (FTIR) analysis and electron microscopy. The FM-synthesized SeNPs had particles average of 8.35 nm, were the NCs of them with CT had size mean of 49.33 nm and charged with +22.8 mV. The CT/FM/SeNPs composite exhibited superior antifungal actions toward P. digitatum isolates, up to 32.2 mm inhibition diameter and 12.5 mg/mL inhibitory concentration, which exceeded the actions of imazilil. The microscopic screening of exposed P. digitatum to NCs clarified their mycelial destructive action within 30 h. The coating of infected lemons with fabricated NCs led to complete elimination of green mold development after 10 days of coating, without any infestation remarks. The innovative fabrication of NCs from CT/FM/SeNPs is strongly suggested to protect citrus crops from green mold and preserve fruits quality.

Berberine hydrochloride delays citrus sour rot mainly by disrupting carbohydrate and energy metabolism of Geotrichum citri-aurantii spores.

Citrus sour rot is a common postharvest citrus disease caused by Geotrichum citri-aurantiiti, which has led to enormous economic losses, particularly during rainy seasons. In this study, we aimed to clarify the impact of berberine hydrochloride (BH), the hydrochloride form of an isoquinoline alkaloid, on the control efficiency of citrus sour rot and its antifungal mode against G. citri-aurantii. Results demonstrated that BH markedly impede the propagation of G. citri-aurantii by delaying the spores development from dormant stage into swollen and germinating stages, with the MIC and MFC value of 0.08 and 0.16 g L-1, respectively. When the artificially inoculated citrus fruit in control group were totally rotted, the disease incidence of BH-treated groups decreased by 35.00%-73.30%, which effectively delayed the disease progression and almost did not negatively affect fruit quality. SEM observation, CFW and PI staining images revealed that BH caused significant damage to both the cell membrane and cell wall of G. citri-aurantii spores, whereas only the cell membrane of the mycelium was affected. The impact of cell wall was related to the block of chitin and ß-1,3-glucan synthesis. Transcriptome results and further verification proved that 0.5 × MIC BH treatment affected the glycolysis pathway and TCA cycle mainly by inhibiting the production of acetyl-CoA and pyruvate. Subsequently, the activities of key enzymes declined, resulting in a further decrease in ATP levels, ultimately inhibiting the germination of spores. In conlusion, BH delays citrus sour rot mainly by disrupting carbohydrate and energy metabolism of G. citri-aurantii spores.

On-site analysis and rapid identification of citrus herbs by miniature mass spectrometry and machine learning.

BACKGROUND: Natural medicines present a considerable analytical challenge due to their diverse botanical origins and complex multi-species composition. This inherent complexity complicates their rapid identification and analysis. Tangerine peel, a product of the Citrus species from the Rutaceae family, is widely used both as a culinary ingredient and in traditional Chinese medicine. It is classified into two primary types in China: Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (CP) and Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride (QP), differentiated by harvest time. A notable price disparity exists between CP and another variety, Citri reticulatae "Chachi" (GCP), with differences being based on the original variety. METHODS: This study introduces an innovative method using portable miniature mass spectrometry for swift on-site analysis of QP, CP, and GCP, requiring less than a minute per sample. And combined with machine learning to differentiate the three types on site, the method was used to try to distinguish GCP from different storage years. RESULTS: This novel method using portable miniature mass spectrometry for swift on-site analysis of tangerine peels enabled the characterization of 22 compounds in less than one minute per sample. The method simplifies sample processing and integrates machine learning to distinguish between the CP, QP, and GCP varieties. Moreover, a multiple-perceptron neural network model is further employed to specifically differentiate between CP and GCP, addressing the significant price gap between them. CONCLUSIONS: The entire analytical time of the method is about 1 minute, and samples can be analyzed on site, greatly reducing the cost of testing. Besides, this approach is versatile, operates independently of location and environmental conditions, and offers a valuable tool for assessing the quality of natural medicines.

An Attempt to Replace Pure Citric Acid with Natural Lemon Juice during Potato Starch Esterification.

The application of chemical operations in food processing, in which pure chemical compounds are used to modify food ingredients, often raises social concerns. One of the most frequently modified dietary substances is starch, e.g., E1401-E1404, E1412-E1414, E1420, E1422, E1440, E1442, and E1450-E1452. An alternative solution to chemical treatments seems to be the use of raw materials naturally containing substrates applied for starch modification. Heating starch with a lemon juice concentrate can be considered a novel and effective method for producing starch citrate, which is part of the so-called "green chemistry". The modified preparations obtained as a result of potato starch esterification with natural lemon juice had a comparable degree of esterification to that of the esters produced with pure citric acid. In addition, the use of the juice doubled their resistance to amylolytic enzymes compared to the preparations made with pure acid. Replacing citric acid with lemon juice can facilitate the esterification process, and the analyzed properties of both types of modified preparations indicate that starch esters produced with pure citric acid can be successfully replaced by those produced using natural lemon juice, which may increase the social acceptance of these modified preparations.

[Optimized nutrients management improved citrus yield and fruit quality in China: A meta-analysis]. / å »åˆ†ä¼˜åŒ–ç®¡ç†æé«˜æˆ‘å›½æŸ‘æ©˜äº§é‡å’Œå“è´¨çš„æ•´åˆåˆ†æž.

Clarifying current situation of farmers' fertilization and yield in citrus producing areas and the effects of different fertilization measures can provide a scientific basis for improving the yield and quality of citrus in China. We retrieved 92 literatures on citrus fertilization from the CNKI and Web of Science to examine the impacts of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P or P2O5), and potassium (K or K2O) fertilizer dosage and partial productivity under farmers' conventional fertilization and experts' optimized fertilization, as well as the effects of optimized fertilization measures on citrus yield and quality by using meta-analysis approach. The average conventional application rates of N, P2O5, and K2O were 507.3, 262.2, and 369.3 kg·hm-2 in citrus production in China. Compared with conventional fertilization, optimized fertilization resulted in a reduction of N and P2O5 by 14.7% and 8.3%, an increase in K2O application by 6.6%, which promoted partial productivity of N, P2O5, and K2O fertilizers by 7.8%, 18.4%, and 14.7%, correspondingly. The optimized fertilization resulted in 11.9% and 2.8% increase in fruit yield and single fruit weight, while improved vitamin C content (Vc, 3.1%), total soluble solids (TSS, 5.9%) and total sugar content (TSC, 8.6%). Additionally, it also led to a reduction in titratable acid (TA, -3.4%) and total acid content (TAC, -3.6%), and consequently elevated the TSS/TA (14.0%) and TSC/TAC (9.5%). Among different optimized fertilization methods, the effect of optimized NPK + medium and/or micro element fertilizer on citrus yield and fruit quality was the best, especially NPK decrement ≤25% between optimized NPK measures. The effect of conventional NPK + organic fertilizer was higher than conventional NPK + medium and/or micro element fertilizer. However, different citrus varieties, including mandarins, pomelos, and oranges, showed different responses to optimized fertilization. Optimized fertilization management could synergistically improve citrus yield, fertilizer use efficiency, and fruit quality. Therefore, the strategy of integrated nutrient management1 with reducing NPK fertilizer, balancing medium and/or micro nutrient fertilizer and improving soil fertility by organic fertilizer should be adopted according to local conditions in citrus producing areas of China.

Flower Power: An Overview on Chemistry and Biological Impact of Selected Essential Oils from Blossoms.

Natural raw materials such as essential oils have received more and more attention in recent decades, whether in the food industry, as flavorings and preservatives, or as insecticides and insect repellents. They are, furthermore, very popular as fragrances in perfumes, cosmetics, and household products. In addition, aromatherapy is widely used to complement conventional medicine. This review summarizes investigations on the chemical composition and the most important biological impacts of essential oils and volatile compounds extracted from selected aromatic blossoms, including Lavandula angustifolia, Matricaria recutita, Rosa x damascena, Jasminum grandiflorum, Citrus x aurantium, Cananga odorata, and Michelia alba. The literature was collected from PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct. Blossom essential oils discussed in this work are used in a wide variety of clinical issues. The application is consistently described as safe in studies and meta-analyses, although there are notes that using essential oils can also have side effects, especially dermatologically. However, it can be considered as confirmed that essential oils have positive influences on humans and can improve quality of life in patients with psychiatric disorders, critically ill patients, and patients in other exceptional situations. Although the positive effect of essential oils from blossoms has repeatedly been reported, evidence-based clinical investigations are still underrepresented, and the need for research is demanded.

Haplotype-resolved chromosome-level genome assembly of Huyou (Citrus changshanensis).

Huyou (Citrus changshanensis) is a significant citrus species that originated in Zhejiang Province, China, where it is also primarily cultivated. It is valued for its distinctive flavor and notable health benefits, owing to its high content of bioactive compounds like naringin and limonin. However, the absence of a high quality reference genome has limited the exploration of these health-promoting compounds in Huyou and hindered research into the mechanisms behind its medicinal properties. In this study, we present a phased chromosome-level genome assembly of Huyou. By combining PacBio and Hi-C sequencing, we generated a primary genome assembly and two haplotypes, comprising nine pseudo-chromosomes, with sizes of 339.91 Mb, 323.51 Mb, and 311.89 Mb, respectively. By integrating transcriptome data and annotations of homologous species, we identified a total of 29,775 protein-coding genes in the genome of Huyou. Additionally, we detected lots of structural variants between the two haplotypes. This represents the first reference genome of Huyou, providing a valuable resource for future studies on its agricultural characteristics and medicinal applications.

Central composite design-assisted visual and non-invasive detection of sertraline by sweet lemon waste-derived core-shell AuNPs@CDs.

This study reports a fast and visual detection method of antidepressant sertraline (SRT) drug by the core-shell AuNPs@CDs as the nanoprobes. The CDs has been eco-friendly synthesized from sweet lemon wastes to directly reduce Au+ to AuNPs without any external photoirradiation process or additional reductants. Optimizing key variables that impact the sensing process has been done using the central composite design (CCD) approach to simulate the assay condition before the analysis. Adding SRT with different concentrations to the nanoprobes under mildly acidic conditions presents an absorbance peak at 560 nm with purple color tonalities that differ from the behavior of alone nanoprobes (530 nm, pink color). The obtained absorption change is linearly proportional to the increase of SRT concentration from 1 µM to 35 µM with a limit of detection (LOD) value of 100 nM. The color changes with a vivid tonality from pink and purple to violet as the colorful fingerprint patterns are readily traceable by the naked eye, allowing the visual assay of SRT. The greenness of the developed approach is well evaluated by some international indexes including the complimentary green analytical procedure (ComplexGAPI) and also, the analytical greenness (AGREE) indexes. The proposed waste-derived nanoprobes based on the eco-friendly procedure not only conduct quantitative and qualitative non-invasive analysis of SRT by the naked eye but also, may widen for other applications in various fields.

QTL analysis on a lemon population provides novel insights on the genetic regulation of the tolerance to the two-spotted spider mite attack.

BACKGROUND: Among the Citrus species, lemon (Citrus limon Burm f.) is one of the most affected by the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch). Moreover, chemical control is hampered by the mite's ability to develop genetic resistance against acaricides. In this context, the identification of the genetic basis of the host resistance could represent a sustainable strategy for spider mite control. In the present study, a marker-trait association analysis was performed on a lemon population employing an association mapping approach. An inter-specific full-sib population composed of 109 accessions was phenotyped through a detached-leaf assays performed in modified Huffaker cells. Those individuals, complemented with two inter-specific segregating populations, were genotyped using a target-sequencing approach called SPET (Single Primer Enrichment Technology), the resulting SNPs were employed for the generation of an integrated genetic map. RESULTS: The percentage of damaged area in the full-sib population showed a quantitative distribution with values ranging from 0.36 to 9.67%. A total of 47,298 SNPs were selected for an association mapping study and a significant marker linked with resistance to spider mite was detected on linkage group 5. In silico gene annotation of the QTL interval enabled the detection of 13 genes involved in immune response to biotic and abiotic stress. Gene expression analysis showed an over expression of the gene encoding for the ethylene-responsive transcription factor ERF098-like, already characterized in Arabidopsis and in rice for its involvement in defense response. CONCLUSION: The identification of a molecular marker linked to the resistance to spider mite attack can pave the way for the development of marker-assisted breeding plan for the development of novel selection coupling favorable agronomical traits (e.g. fruit quality, yield) with a higher resistance toward the mite.

Effects of aluminum (Al) stress on the isoprenoid metabolism of two Citrus species differing in Al-tolerance.

Isoprenoid metabolism and its derivatives took part in photosynthesis, growth regulation, signal transduction, and plant defense to biotic and abiotic stresses. However, how aluminum (Al) stress affects the isoprenoid metabolism and whether isoprenoid metabolism plays a vital role in the Citrus plants in coping with Al stress remain unclear. In this study, we reported that Al-treatment-induced alternation in the volatilization rate of monoterpenes (α-pinene, ß-pinene, limonene, α-terpinene, γ-terpinene and 3-carene) and isoprene were different between Citrus sinensis (Al-tolerant) and C. grandis (Al-sensitive) leaves. The Al-induced decrease of CO2 assimilation, maximum quantum yield of primary PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fm), the lower contents of glucose and starch, and the lowered activities of enzymes involved in the mevalonic acid (MVA) pathway and 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway might account for the different volatilization rate of isoprenoids. Furthermore, the altered transcript levels of genes related to isoprenoid precursors and/or derivatives metabolism, such as geranyl diphosphate (GPP) synthase (GPPS) in GPP biosynthesis, geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase (GGPPS), chlorophyll synthase (CHS) and GGPP reductase (GGPPR) in chlorophyll biosynthesis, limonene synthase (LS) and α-pinene synthase (APS) in limonene and α-pinene synthesis, respectively, might be responsible for the different contents of corresponding products in C. grandis and C. sinensis. Our data suggested that isoprenoid metabolism was involved in Al tolerance response in Citrus, and the alternation of some branches of isoprenoid metabolism could confer different Al-tolerance to Citrus species.

Nobiletin enhances the antifungal activity of eugenol nanoemulsion against Penicillium italicum in both in vitro and in vivo settings.

The study prepared and used eugenol nanoemulsion loaded with nobiletin as fungistat to study its antifungal activity and potential mechanism of Penicillium italicum (P. italicum). The results showed that the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of eugenol nanoemulsion loaded with nobiletin (EGN) was lower than that of pure eugenol nanoemulsion (EG), which were 160 µg/mL and 320 µg/mL, respectively. At the same time, the mycelial growth inhibition rate of EGN nanoemulsion (54.68 %) was also higher than that of EG nanoemulsion (9.92 %). This indicates that EGN nanoemulsion is more effective than EG nanoemulsion. Compared with EG nanoemulsion, the treatment of EGN nanoemulsion caused more serious damage to the cell structure of P. italicum. At the same time, in vitro inoculation experiments found that EGN nanoemulsion has better control and delay the growth and reproduction of P. italicum in citrus fruits. And the results reflected that EGN nanoemulsion may be considered as potential resouces of natural antiseptic to inhibit blue mold disease of citrus fruits, because it has good antifungal activity.