Okra extract alleviates lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation response through the regulation of bile acids, the receptor-mediated pathway, and gut microbiota.

BACKGROUND: Okra contains flavonoids and vitamin C as antioxidants and it contains polysaccharides as immunomodulators. Flavonoids regulate the inflammatory response in mice and may be related to gut microbiota. This study therefore aimed to investigate the impact of okra extract (OE) on inflammation in mice and to elucidate its underlying mechanism. METHOD: Forty male Kunming (KM) mice were categorized into four groups: the control (CON) group, the lipopolysaccharide stimulation (LPS) group, the 5 mg mL-1 OE intervention (LPS + OE) group, and the 5 mg mL-1 OE supplementation plus mixed antibiotics (LPS + OE + ABX) group. RESULTS: The results showed that, compared with the OE group, the expression of inflammatory signaling pathway genes was upregulated and gut barrier genes were inhibited in the OE + ABX group. The Fxr receptor was activated and the abundance of Akkermansia was increased after OE supplementation, whereas the effect was reversed in the OE + ABX group. Meanwhile, Fxr was correlated positively with Akkermansia. CONCLUSION: The OE supplementation alleviated the inflammatory response in mice under LPS stimulation, accompanied by changes in gut microbiota and bile acid receptors, whereas the addition of antibiotics caused a disturbance to the gut microbiota in the OE group, thus reducing the effect of OE in alleviating the inflammatory response. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Codon usage pattern of the ancestor of green plants revealed through Rhodophyta.

Rhodophyta are among the closest known relatives of green plants. Studying the codons of their genomes can help us understand the codon usage pattern and characteristics of the ancestor of green plants. By studying the codon usage pattern of all available red algae, it was found that although there are some differences among species, high-bias genes in most red algae prefer codons ending with GC. Correlation analysis, Nc-GC3s plots, parity rule 2 plots, neutrality plot analysis, differential protein region analysis and comparison of the nucleotide content of introns and flanking sequences showed that the bias phenomenon is likely to be influenced by local mutation pressure and natural selection, the latter of which is the dominant factor in terms of translation accuracy and efficiency. It is worth noting that selection on translation accuracy could even be detected in the low-bias genes of individual species. In addition, we identified 15 common optimal codons in seven red algae except for G. sulphuraria for the first time, most of which were found to be complementary and bound to the tRNA genes with the highest copy number. Interestingly, tRNA modification was found for the highly degenerate amino acids of all multicellular red algae and individual unicellular red algae, which indicates that highly biased genes tend to use modified tRNA in translation. Our research not only lays a foundation for exploring the characteristics of codon usage of the red algae as green plant ancestors, but will also facilitate the design and performance of transgenic work in some economic red algae in the future.

Blueberry extract alleviated lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation responses in mice through activating the FXR/TGR5 signaling pathway and regulating gut microbiota.

BACKGROUND: Blueberry extract (BE) is rich in phenols, especially anthocyanins. Anthocyanins regulate the inflammatory response in mice and may be related to gut microbiota and bile acid receptors. The aim of the present study was to explore the effects of BE on the inflammatory response by regulating gut microbiota and bile acid receptors in mice administered Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS). METHOD: Thirty male KM mice were randomly divided into three groups: CON (control diet) group; LPS (LPS stimulation) group; and LPS + BE (LPS stimulation, 5% BE intervention) group. RESULTS: our results showed that, compared with the LPS group, the addition of BE decreased the level of inflammatory factors in serum and tissues, inhibited the TLR4/MyD88 signaling pathway, protected the intestinal barrier and activated FXR/TGR5, which was related to gut microbiota (especially Akkermansia). The active component (e.g., cyanidin 3-O-glucoside, C3G) in BE may be an important factor in regulating gut microbiota. CONCLUSION: BE alleviated the inflammatory response mainly by activating bile acid receptor expression and regulating the gut microbiota; this effect may be related to the composition of bioactive substances in BE. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Characterization and Anti-Aging Activity of Polysaccharides from Akebia trifoliata Fruit Separated by an Aqueous Two-Phase System.

Bioactive polysaccharides have numerous pharmacological effects that are beneficial to human health. Akebia trifoliata (Thunb.) Koidz. has great development prospects as a food resource with medicinal value. The polysaccharides (ATFP) were extracted from A. trifoliata fruit by an aqueous two-phase system. ATFP-3, purified with DEAE-52 and Sephadex G-200 from ATFP, was mainly composed of glucose (47.55%) and galactose (20.39%). Its hydroxyl radical scavenging rate was 89.30% at 1.60 mg/mL and its IC50 was 0.29 mg/mL. ATFP-3 significantly enhanced the survival rate of Caenorhabditis elegans under thermal or oxidative stress. Furthermore, ATFP-3 could prolong the lifespan of C. elegans and improve the activities of the antioxidant enzyme, while also decrease the accumulation of lipofuscin and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in aging worms. Thus, ATFP-3 has application potential in health benefits for humans.

New insights into the role of melatonin in photosynthesis.

There are numerous studies on enhancing plant resistance to stress using melatonin, but few studies about its effect on photosynthesis. Herein, we summarized the role of melatonin in photosynthesis. Melatonin regulates chlorophyll synthesis and degradation through the transcription of related genes and hormone signals. It protects photosynthetic proteins and maintains the photosynthetic process through improving the transcription of photosystem genes, activating the antioxidant system, and promoting the xanthophyll cycle. Melatonin potentially regulates plant stomatal movement through CAND2/PMTR1. Finally, it controls the photosynthetic carbon cycle by regulating the metabolism of sugar, the gluconeogenesis pathway, and the degradation and transport of transient starch.

Physicochemical Characterization of a Fern Polysaccharide from Alsophila spinulosa Leaf and Its Anti-Aging Activity in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Alsophila spinulosa, as a rare tree fern with potential medicinal value, has attracted extensive attention. Herein, the physicochemical properties, antioxidant and anti-aging activities of polysaccharide from A. spinulosa leaf (ALP) were investigated. ALP was composed of galactose, arabinose, glucose, rhamnose, galacturonic acid, mannose, and fucose. (1→), (1→6), and (1→2) bond types were the primary glycosidic bond in ALP. Surprisingly, ALP displayed the wonderful activity of antioxidant and anti-aging, including excellent scavenging ability against DPPH and ABTS radicals in vitro; prolonging the life span, improving activity of antioxidative enzymes (SOD and CAT), and decreasing the level of ROS, MDA in Caenorhabditis elegans. Meanwhile, ALP promoted DAF-16 to move into the nuclear. Overall, our results illustrated that ALP could be further developed as a functional food ingredient.

Potential implications of polyphenols on aging considering oxidative stress, inflammation, autophagy, and gut microbiota.

Naturally occurring compounds polyphenols are secondary metabolites of plants, comprised several categories, namely, flavonoids, phenolic acids, lignans and stilbenes. The biological aging process is driven by a series of interrelated mechanisms, including oxidative stress, inflammation status, and autophagy function, through diverse signaling pathways. Moreover, the crucial role of gut microbiota in regulating aging and health status was widely demonstrated. In recent years, the potential anti-aging benefits of polyphenols have been gaining increasing scientific interest due to their capability to modulate oxidative damage, inflammation, autophagy, and gut microbiota. This review highlights the influence of polyphenols in preventing aging disorders and augmenting lifespan based on the influence of oxidative stress, inflammation, autophagy, and gut microbiota, and encourages research on novel polyphenol-based strategies and clinical trials to develop a nutrition-oriented holistic anti-aging therapy.

Tartary Buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum) NAC Transcription Factors FtNAC16 Negatively Regulates of Pod Cracking and Salinity Tolerant in Arabidopsis.

The thick and hard fruit shell of Fagopyrum tataricum (F. tataricum) represents a processing bottleneck. At the same time, soil salinization is one of the main problems faced by modern agricultural production. Bioinformatic analysis indicated that the F. tataricum transcription factor FtNAC16 could regulate the hull cracking of F. tataricum, and the function of this transcription factor was verified by genetic transformation of Arabidopsis thaliana (A. thaliana). Phenotypic observations of the wild-type (WT), OE-FtNAC16, nst1/3 and nst1/3-FtNAC16 plant lines confirmed that FtNAC16 negatively regulated pod cracking by downregulating lignin synthesis. Under salt stress, several physiological indicators (POD, GSH, Pro and MDA) were measured, A. thaliana leaves were stained with NBT (Nitroblue Tetrazolium) and DAB (3,3'-diaminobenzidine), and all genes encoding enzymes in the lignin synthesis pathway were analyzed. These experiments confirmed that FtNAC16 increased plant sensitivity by reducing the lignin content or changing the proportions of the lignin monomer. The results of this study may help to elucidate the possible association between changes in lignin monomer synthesis and salt stress and may also contribute to fully understanding the effects of FtNAC16 on plant growth and development, particularly regarding fruit pod cracking and environmental adaptability. In future studies, it may be useful to obtain suitable cracking varieties and salt-tolerant crops through molecular breeding.

Multiple Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris 8004 type III effectors inhibit immunity induced by flg22.

MAIN CONCLUSION: Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris 8004 secretes several effector proteins that interfere with plant phosphorylation. Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) can infect cruciferous plants and cause black rot. The strain Xcc8004 secretes effector proteins that interfere with plant cellular processes into host cells using a type III secretion (T3S) system. Several of the 24 predicted T3S effectors in the Xcc8004 genome have been implicated in the suppression of the Arabidopsis thaliana pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) response. We used an A. thaliana mesophyll protoplast-based assay to identify Xcc8004 T3S effectors that effectively interfere with PTI signalling induced by the bacterial peptide flg22. 11 of the 24 tested effector proteins (XopK, XopQ, HrpW, XopN, XopAC, XopD, XopZ1, XopAG, AvrBs2, XopL and XopX-1) inhibited expression of the flg22-inducible gene FRK1, and five effectors (XopK, XopG, XopQ, XopL and XopX-1) inhibited the expression of the flg22-inducible gene WRKY33. Therefore, there are 12 effector proteins that can inhibit the expression of relevant flg22-inducible genes. It was further investigated whether the 12 effector proteins affect the phosphorylation activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases MPK3/MPK6, and four effector proteins (XopK, XopQ, XopZ1 and XopX-1) were found to markedly inhibit MPK3/MPK6 activation. Moreover, a subcellular localisation analysis revealed that the tested effectors were localised within various subcellular compartments. These results indicate that multiple T3S effectors in the Xcc8004 genome interfere with flg22-induced PTI signalling via various molecular mechanisms.

Ferrous iron-induced increases in capitate glandular trichome density and upregulation of CbHO-1 contributes to increases in blinin content in Conyza blinii.

MAIN CONCLUSION: Ferrous iron can promote the development of glandular trichomes and increase the content of blinin, which depends on CbHO-1 expression. Conyza blinii (C. blinii) is a unique Chinese herbal medicine that grows in Sichuan Province, China. Because the habitat of C. blinii is an iron ore mining area with abundant iron content, this species can be used as one of the best materials to study the mechanism of plant tolerance to iron. In this study, C. blinii was treated with ferrous-EDTA solutions at different concentrations, and it was found that the tolerance value of C. blinii to iron was 200 µM. Under this concentration, the plant height, root length, biomass, and iron content of C. blinii increased to the maximum values, and the effect was dependent on the upregulated expression of CbHO-1. At the same time, under ferrous iron, the photosynthetic capacity and capitate glandular trichome density of C. blinii also significantly increased, providing precursors and sites for the synthesis of blinin, thus significantly increasing the content of blinin. These processes were also dependent on the high expression of CbHO-1. Correlation analysis showed that there were strong positive correlations between iron content, capitate glandular trichome density, CbHO-1 gene expression, and blinin content. This study explored the effects of ferrous iron on the physiology and biochemistry of C. blinii, greatly improving our understanding of the mechanism of iron tolerance in C. blinii.

Genome-wide investigation of the heat shock transcription factor (Hsf) gene family in Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum).

BACKGROUND: Heat shock transcription factor (Hsfs) is widely found in eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Hsfs can not only help organisms resist high temperature, but also participate in the regulation of plant growth and development (such as involved in the regulation of seed maturity and affects the root length of plants). The Hsf gene was first isolated from yeast and then gradually found in plants and sequenced, such as Arabidopsis thaliana, rice, maize. Tartary buckwheat is a rutin-rich crop, and its nutritional value and medicinal value are receiving more and more attention. However, there are few studies on the Hsf genes in Tartary buckwheat. With the whole genome sequence of Tartary buckwheat, we can effectively study the Hsf gene family in Tartary buckwheat. RESULTS: According to the study, 29 Hsf genes of Tartary buckwheat (FtHsf) were identified and renamed according to location of FtHsf genes on chromosome after removing a redundant gene. Therefore, only 29 FtHsf genes truly had the functional characteristics of the FtHsf family. The 29 FtHsf genes were located on 8 chromosomes of Tartary buckwheat, and we found gene duplication events in the FtHsf gene family, which may promote the expansion of the FtHsf gene family. Then, the motif compositions and the evolutionary relationship of FtHsf proteins and the gene structures, cis-acting elements in the promoter, synteny analysis of FtHsf genes were discussed in detail. What's more, we found that the transcription levels of FtHsf in different tissues and fruit development stages were significantly different by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), implied that FtHsf may differ in function. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, only 29 Hsf genes were identified in Tartary buckwheat. Meanwhile, we also classified the FtHsf genes, and studied their structure, evolutionary relationship and the expression pattern. This series of studies has certain reference value for the study of the specific functional characteristics of Tartary buckwheat Hsf genes and to improve the yield and quality of Tartary buckwheat in the future.

Genome-wide analysis of the NAC transcription factor family in Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum).

BACKGROUND: The NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2) transcription factor family represents a group of large plant-specific transcriptional regulators, participating in plant development and response to external stress. However, there is no comprehensive study on the NAC genes of Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum), a large group of extensively cultivated medicinal and edible plants. The recently published Tartary buckwheat genome permits us to explore all the FtNAC genes on a genome-wide basis. RESULTS: In the present study, 80 NAC (FtNAC) genes of Tartary buckwheat were obtained and named uniformly according to their distribution on chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis of NAC proteins in both Tartary buckwheat and Arabidopsis showed that the FtNAC proteins are widely distributed in 15 subgroups with one subgroup unclassified. Gene structure analysis found that multitudinous FtNAC genes contained three exons, indicating that the structural diversity in Tartary buckwheat NAC genes is relatively low. Some duplication genes of FtNAC have a conserved structure that was different from others, indicating that these genes may have a variety of functions. By observing gene expression, we found that FtNAC genes showed abundant differences in expression levels in various tissues and at different stages of fruit development. CONCLUSIONS: In this research, 80 NAC genes were identified in Tartary buckwheat, and their phylogenetic relationships, gene structures, duplication, global expression and potential roles in Tartary buckwheat development were studied. Comprehensive analysis will be useful for a follow-up study of functional characteristics of FtNAC genes and for the development of high-quality Tartary buckwheat varieties.

Genome-wide identification, phylogeny, evolutionary expansion and expression analyses of bZIP transcription factor family in tartaty buckwheat.

BACKGROUND: In reported plants, the bZIP family is one of the largest transcription factor families. bZIP genes play roles in the light signal, seed maturation, flower development, cell elongation, seed accumulation protein, abiotic and biological stress and other biological processes. While, no detailed identification and genome-wide analysis of bZIP family genes in Fagopyum talaricum (tartary buckwheat) has previously been published. The recently reported genome sequence of tartary buckwheat provides theoretical basis for us to study and discuss the characteristics and expression of bZIP genes in tartary buckwheat based on the whole genome. RESULTS: In this study, 96 FtbZIP genes named from FtbZIP1 to FtbZIP96 were identified and divided into 11 subfamilies according to their genetic relationship with 70 bZIPs of A. thaliana. FtbZIP genes are not evenly distributed on the chromosomes, and we found tandem and segmental duplication events of FtbZIP genes on 8 tartary buckwheat chromosomes. According to the results of gene and motif composition, FtbZIP located in the same group contained analogous intron/exon organizations and motif composition. By qRT-PCR, we quantified the expression of FtbZIP members in stem, root, leaf, fruit, and flower and during fruit development. Exogenous ABA treatment increased the weight of tartary buckwheat fruit and changed the expressions of FtbZIP genes in group A. CONCLUSIONS: Through our study, we identified 96 FtbZIP genes in tartary buckwheat and synthetically further analyzed the structure composition, evolution analysis and expression pattern of FtbZIP proteins. The expression pattern indicates that FtbZIP is important in the course of plant growth and development of tartary buckwheat. Through comprehensively analyzing fruit weight and FtbZIP genes expression after ABA treatment and endogenous ABA content of tartary buckwheat fruit, ABA may regulate downstream gene expression by regulating the expression of FtPinG0003523300.01 and FtPinG0003196200.01, thus indirectly affecting the fruit development of tartary buckwheat. This will help us to further study the function of FtbZIP genes in the tartary buckwheat growth and improve the fruit of tartary buckwheat.

Genome-wide identification of the SPL gene family in Tartary Buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum) and expression analysis during fruit development stages.

BACKGROUND: SPL (SQUAMOSA promoter binding protein-like) is a class of plant-specific transcription factors that play important roles in many growth and developmental processes, including shoot and inflorescence branching, embryonic development, signal transduction, leaf initiation, phase transition, and flower and fruit development. The SPL gene family has been identified and characterized in many species but has not been well studied in tartary buckwheat, which is an important edible and medicinal crop. RESULTS: In this study, 24 Fagopyrum tataricum SPL (FtSPL) genes were identified and renamed according to the chromosomal distribution of the FtSPL genes. According to the amino acid sequence of the SBP domain and gene structure, the SPL genes were divided into eight groups (group I to group VII) by phylogenetic tree analysis. A total of 10 motifs were detected in the tartary buckwheat SPL genes. The expression patterns of 23 SPL genes in different tissues and fruits at different developmental stages (green fruit stage, discoloration stage and initial maturity stage) were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). CONCLUSIONS: The tartary buckwheat genome contained 24 SPL genes, and most of the genes were expressed in different tissues. qRT-PCR showed that FtSPLs played important roles in the growth and development of tartary buckwheat, and genes that might regulate flower and fruit development were preliminarily identified. This work provides a comprehensive understanding of the SBP-box gene family in tartary buckwheat and lays a significant foundation for further studies on the functional characteristics of FtSPL genes and improvement of tartary buckwheat crops.

Genome-wide identification, expression analysis and functional study of the GRAS gene family in Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum).

BACKGROUND: GRAS are plant-specific transcription factors that play important roles in plant growth and development. Although the GRAS gene family has been studied in many plants, there has been little research on the GRAS genes of Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum), which is an important crop rich in rutin. The recently published whole genome sequence of Tartary buckwheat allows us to study the characteristics and expression patterns of the GRAS gene family in Tartary buckwheat at the genome-wide level. RESULTS: In this study, 47 GRAS genes of Tartary buckwheat were identified and divided into 10 subfamilies: LISCL, HAM, DELLA, SCR, PAT1, SCL4/7, LAS, SHR, SCL3, and DLT. FtGRAS genes were unevenly distributed on 8 chromosomes, and members of the same subfamily contained similar gene structures and motif compositions. Some FtGRAS genes may have been produced by gene duplications; tandem duplication contributed more to the expansion of the GRAS gene family in Tartary buckwheat. Real-time PCR showed that the transcription levels of FtGRAS were significantly different in different tissues and fruit development stages, implying that FtGRAS might have different functions. Furthermore, an increase in fruit weight was induced by exogenous paclobutrazol, and the transcription level of the DELLA subfamily member FtGRAS22 was significantly upregulated during the whole fruit development stage. Therefore, FtGRAS22 may be a potential target for molecular breeding or genetic editing. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, this systematic analysis lays a foundation for further study of the functional characteristics of GRAS genes and for the improvement of Tartary buckwheat crops.

Genome-wide investigation of the AP2/ERF gene family in tartary buckwheat (Fagopyum Tataricum).

BACKGROUND: AP2/ERF transcription factors perform indispensable functions in various biological processes, such as plant growth, development, biotic and abiotic stresses responses. The AP2/ERF transcription factor family has been identified in many plants, and several AP2/ERF transcription factors from Arabidopsis thaliana (A. thaliana) have been functionally characterized. However, little research has been conducted on the AP2/ERF genes of tartary buckwheat (Fagopyum tataricum), which is an important edible and medicinal crop. The recently published whole genome sequence of tartary buckwheat allowed us to study the tissue and expression profiles of AP2/ERF genes in tartary buckwheat on a genome-wide basis. RESULTS: In this study, 134 AP2/ERF genes of tartary buckwheat (FtAP2/ERF) were identified and renamed according to the chromosomal distribution of the FtAP2/ERF genes. According to the number conserved domains and gene structure, the AP2/ERF genes were divided into three subfamilies by phylogenetic tree analysis, namely, AP2 (15 members), ERF (116 members) and RAV (3 members). A total of 10 motifs were detected in tartary buckwheat AP2/ERF genes, and some of the unique motifs were found to be important for the function of AP2/ERF genes. CONCLUSION: A comprehensive analysis of AP2/ERF gene expression patterns in different tissues and fruit development stages by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) showed that they played an important role in the growth and development of tartary buckwheat, and genes that might regulate flower and fruit development were preliminarily identified. This systematic analysis establishes a foundation for further studies of the functional characteristics of FtAP2/ERF genes and improvement of tartary buckwheat crops.

Genome-wide investigation of the ZF-HD gene family in Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum).

BACKGROUND: ZF-HD is a family of genes that play an important role in plant growth, development, some studies have found that after overexpression AtZHD1 in Arabidopsis thaliana, florescence advance, the seeds get bigger and the life span of seeds is prolonged, moreover, ZF-HD genes are also participate in responding to adversity stress. The whole genome of the ZF-HD gene family has been studied in several model plants, such as Arabidopsis thaliana and rice. However, there has been little research on the ZF-HD genes in Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum), which is an important edible and medicinal crop. The recently published whole genome sequence of Tartary buckwheat allows us to study the tissue and expression profiles of the ZF-HD gene family in Tartary buckwheat on a genome-wide basis. RESULTS: In this study, the whole genome and expression profile of the ZF-HD gene family were analyzed for the first time in Tartary buckwheat. We identified 20 FtZF-HD genes and divided them into MIF and ZHD subfamilies according to phylogeny. The ZHD genes were divided into 5 subfamilies. Twenty FtZF-HD genes were distributed on 7 chromosomes, and almost all the genes had no introns. We detected seven pairs of chromosomes with fragment repeats, but no tandem repeats were detected. In different tissues and at different fruit development stages, the FtZF-HD genes obtained by a real-time quantitative PCR analysis showed obvious expression patterns. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, 20 FtZF-HD genes were identified in Tartary buckwheat, and the structures, evolution and expression patterns of the proteins were studied. Our findings provide a valuable basis for further analysis of the biological function of the ZF-HD gene family. Our study also laid a foundation for the improvement of Tartary buckwheat crops.

Genome-wide investigation of the MADS gene family and dehulling genes in tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum).

MAIN CONCLUSION: Genome-wide identification, expression analysis and potential functional characterization of previously uncharacterized MADS family of tartary buckwheat, emphasized the importance of this gene family in plant growth and development. The MADS transcription factor is a key regulatory factor in the development of most plants. The MADS gene in plants controls all aspects of tissue and organ growth and reproduction and can be used to regulate plant seed cracking. However, there has been little research on the MADS genes of tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum), which is an important edible and medicinal crop. The recently published whole genome sequence of tartary buckwheat allows us to study the tissue and expression profiles of the MADS gene in tartary buckwheat at a genome-wide level. In this study, 65 MADS genes of tartary buckwheat were identified and renamed according to the chromosomal distribution of the FtMADS genes. Here, we provide a complete overview of the gene structure, gene expression, genomic mapping, protein motif organization, and phylogenetic relationships of each member of the gene family. According to the phylogenetic relationship of MADS genes, the transcription factor family was divided into two subfamilies, the M subfamily (28 genes) and the MIKC subfamily (37 genes). The results showed that the FtMADS genes belonged to related sister pairs and the chromosomal map showed that the replication of FtMADSs was related to the replication of chromosome blocks. In different tissues and at different fruit development stages, the FtMADS genes obtained by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) showed obvious expression patterns. A comprehensive analysis of the MADS genes in tartary buckwheat was conducted. Through systematic analysis, the potential genes that may regulate the growth and development of tartary buckwheat and the genes that may regulate the easy dehulling of tartary buckwheat fruit were screened, which laid a solid foundation for improving the quality of tartary buckwheat.

Insights into the correlation between Physiological changes in and seed development of tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum Gaertn.).

BACKGROUND: Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum Gaertn.) is a widely cultivated medicinal and edible crop with excellent economic and nutritional value. The development of tartary buckwheat seeds is a very complex process involving many expression-dependent physiological changes and regulation of a large number of genes and phytohormones. In recent years, the gene regulatory network governing the physiological changes occurring during seed development have received little attention. RESULTS: Here, we characterized the seed development of tartary buckwheat using light and electron microscopy and measured phytohormone and nutrient accumulation by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and by profiling the expression of key genes using RNA sequencing with the support of the tartary buckwheat genome. We first divided the development of tartary buckwheat seed into five stages that include complex changes in development, morphology, physiology and phytohormone levels. At the same time, the contents of phytohormones (gibberellin, indole-3-acetic acid, abscisic acid, and zeatin) and nutrients (rutin, starch, total proteins and soluble sugars) at five stages were determined, and their accumulation patterns in the development of tartary buckwheat seeds were analyzed. Second, gene expression patterns of tartary buckwheat samples were compared during three seed developmental stages (13, 19, and 25 days postanthesis, DPA), and 9 765 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. We analyzed the overlapping DEGs in different sample combinations and measured 665 DEGs in the three samples. Furthermore, expression patterns of DEGs related to phytohormones, flavonoids, starch, and storage proteins were analyzed. Third, we noted the correlation between the trait (physiological changes, nutrient changes) and metabolites during seed development, and discussed the key genes that might be involved in the synthesis and degradation of each of them. CONCLUSION: We provided abundant genomic resources for tartary buckwheat and Polygonaceae communities and revealed novel molecular insights into the correlations between the physiological changes and seed development of tartary buckwheat.

The Potential Role of Auxin and Abscisic Acid Balance and FtARF2 in the Final Size Determination of Tartary Buckwheat Fruit.

Tartary buckwheat is a type of cultivated medicinal and edible crop with good economic and nutritional value. Knowledge of the final fruit size of buckwheat is critical to its yield increase. In this study, the fruit development of two species of Tartary buckwheat in the Polygonaceae was analyzed. During fruit development, the size/weight, the contents of auxin (AUX)/abscisic acid (ABA), the number of cells, and the changes of embryo were measured and observed; and the two fruit materials were compared to determine the related mechanisms that affected fruit size and the potential factors that regulated the final fruit size. The early events during embryogenesis greatly influenced the final fruit size, and the difference in fruit growth was primarily due to the difference in the number of cells, implicating the effect of cell division rate. Based on our observations and recent reports, the balance of AUX and ABA might be the key factor that regulated the cell division rate. They induced the response of auxin response factor 2 (FtARF2) and downstream small auxin upstream RNA (FtSAURs) through hormone signaling pathway to regulate the fruit size of Tartary buckwheat. Further, through the induction of fruit expansion by exogenous auxin, FtARF2b was significantly downregulated. The FtARF2b is a potential target for molecular breeding or gene editing.