Dynamic regulation of plasmodesmatal permeability and its application to horticultural research

Intercellular channels: managing communications Modifying the structure and dynamics of plasmodesmata (PD), channels that directly connect the cytoplasm of neighboring plant cells, could improve the growth and productivity of horticultural crops. Xu Chen and colleagues at Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, China, review recent understanding of the mechanisms regulating the opening and closing of PD and potential applications of this knowledge. Changes in the levels of the sugar polymer callose or phospholipids lining the membrane of PD, or disrupted delivery and transport of PD-associated proteins affect the channels’ permeability. Modulating PD dynamics could not only enhance plant survival, by preventing the spread of pathogens and improving their response to changing environmental conditions, but also influence crop yield by aiding the transport of nutrients into fruits and the establishment beneficial symbioses

Strengthening Sulfidation Flotation of Hemimorphite via Pretreatment with Pb2+

The conventional sulfidation-xanthate flotation process that consists of sulfidization with sodium sulfide, activation by heavy-metal ions, and collection with xanthate is not sufficiently efficient for treating hemimorphite, and the dosages of the sulfurizing reagent and metal ions are large. In this study, the sulfidation flotation (Pb2+ + Na2S + Pb2+ + xanthate) of hemimorphite was strengthened by pretreating with Pb2+ before sulfidation. Microflotation test results indicated that the recovery of hemimorphite increased by 5–10% after pretreatment with Pb2+. The comprehensive results of adsorption experiments, scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicated that a large amount of Pb2+ was adsorbed on the hemimorphite surface and entered the lattice, forming Zn(4−x)PbxSi2O7(OH)2·H2O. The newly formed component had an increased amount of surface sulfidation active sites and had the effect of induced crystallization, making the surface more effective for sulfidation. After the Pb2+ was added to the pulp, a large number of uniform and dense PbS species were formed on the hemimorphite surface, increasing the number of adsorption sites for xanthate and reducing the competitive adsorption of residual S2− on the xanthate

Characterization of Highbush Blueberry (<i>Vaccinium corymbosum</i> L.) Anthocyanin Biosynthesis Related MYBs and Functional Analysis of <i>VcMYB</i> Gene

As one of the most important transcription factors regulating plant anthocyanin biosynthesis, MYB has attracted great attentions. In this study, we identified fifteen candidate anthocyanin biosynthesis related MYB (ABRM) proteins, including twelve R2R3-MYBs and three 1R-MYBs, from highbush blueberry. The subcellular localization prediction results showed that, with the exception of VcRVE8 (localized in chloroplast and nucleus), all of the blueberry ABRMs were nucleus-localized. The gene structure analysis revealed that the exon numbers of the blueberry ABRM genes varied greatly, ranging between one and eight. There are many light-responsive, phytohormone-responsive, abiotic stress-responsive and plant growth and development related cis-acting elements in the promoters of the blueberry ABRM genes. It is noteworthy that almost all of their promoters contain light-, ABA- and MeJA-responsive elements, which is consistent with the well-established results that anthocyanin accumulation and the expression of MYBs are influenced significantly by many factors, such as light, ABA and JA. The gene expression analysis revealed that VcMYB, VcMYB6, VcMYB23, VcMYBL2 and VcPH4 are expressed abundantly in blueberry fruits, and VcMYB is expressed the highest in the red, purple and blue fruits among all blueberry ABRMs. VcMYB shared high similarity with functionally proven ABRMs from many other plant species. The gene cloning results showed that VcMYB had three variable transcripts, but only the transient overexpression of VcMYB-1 promoted anthocyanin accumulation in the green fruits. Our study can provide a basis for future research on the anthocyanin biosynthesis related MYBs in blueberry

A method to improve electrical properties of BiFeO 3 thin films

10.1021/am300236jACS Applied Materials and Interfaces431182-118