A high-throughput phenotyping assay for precisely determining stalk crushing strength in large-scale sugarcane germplasm

Sugarcane is a major industrial crop around the world. Lodging due to weak mechanical strength is one of the main problems leading to huge yield losses in sugarcane. However, due to the lack of high efficiency phenotyping methods for stalk mechanical strength characterization, genetic approaches for lodging-resistant improvement are severely restricted. This study attempted to apply near-infrared spectroscopy high-throughput assays for the first time to estimate the crushing strength of sugarcane stalks. A total of 335 sugarcane samples with huge variation in stalk crushing strength were collected for online NIRS modeling. A comprehensive analysis demonstrated that the calibration and validation sets were comparable. By applying a modified partial least squares method, we obtained high-performance equations that had large coefficients of determination (R2 > 0.80) and high ratio performance deviations (RPD > 2.4). Particularly, when the calibration and external validation sets combined for an integrative modeling, we obtained the final equation with a coefficient of determination (R2) and ratio performance deviation (RPD) above 0.9 and 3.0, respectively, demonstrating excellent prediction capacity. Additionally, the obtained model was applied for characterization of stalk crushing strength in large-scale sugarcane germplasm. In a three-year study, the genetic characteristics of stalk crushing strength were found to remain stable, and the optimal sugarcane genotypes were screened out consistently. In conclusion, this study offers a feasible option for a high-throughput analysis of sugarcane mechanical strength, which can be used for the breeding of lodging resistant sugarcane and beyond

Research advances in liver cirrhosis complicated by portal vein thrombosis

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a common complication of liver cirrhosis. This article reviews the research advances in liver cirrhosis complicated by PVT in recent years and points out that PVT is induced by the combined effect of various factors. Hemodynamic disorder is an important basis for the development of PVT. PVT can be classified into different types according to the degree of thromboembolism and the portal vein branches involved. At present, anticoagulant therapy and interventional therapy are commonly used in the treatment of PVT. The development of PVT may not promote the progression of liver cirrhosis, but it may affect the prognosis of patients with liver cirrhosis who receive liver transplantation

Comparison of Concanavalin a-Induced Murine Autoimmune Hepatitis Models

Background/Aims: Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic necroinflammatory disease of the liver whose pathogenic mechanisms have not yet been elucidated. Moreover, the current treatment used for the vast majority of AIH patients is largely dependent on immunosuppressant administration and liver transplantation. However, research on the pathogenesis of AIH and effective new treatments for AIH have been hampered by a lack of animal models that accurately reproduce the human condition. Methods: AIH models created by concanavalin A (ConA) injections at different times and doses. The levels of ALT, AST, LDH and inflammatory cytokines were examined at various times after 20 mg/kg ConA was administered by ELISA using commercially available kits. Moreover, liver pathological changes were observed by flow cytometry (FCM) and H&E staining. Results: Our experiments demonstrated that the levels of ALT, AST, LDH and several inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-6, were higher in the 20 mg/kg 12 h ConA group than in the other groups. Importantly, the numbers of activated CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in the blood, spleen and liver were calculated. These results showed that ConA (20 mg/kg for 12 h)-induced hepatitis was similar to that in clinical AIH patients. Furthermore, we found that the number of MDSCs in the blood was significantly increased in the ConA (20 mg/kg for 12 h) group compared with controls. Our findings indicated that ConA (20 mg/kg for 12 h)-induced hepatitis could be used as an experimental murine model that mirrors most of the pathogenic properties of human type I AIH. Conclusion: This model [ConA (20 mg/kg for 12 h)] provides a valuable tool for studying AIH immunopathogenesis and rapidly assessing novel therapeutic approaches

Analysis of Photosynthetic Characteristics and Screening High Light-Efficiency Germplasm in Sugarcane

Sugarcane is a globally significant crop for sugar and energy production, and developing high light-efficiency sugarcane varieties is crucial for enhancing yield and quality. However, limited research is available on the screening of sugarcane germplasm with high photosynthetic efficiency, especially with different leaf positions. The present study, conducted in Guangxi, China, aimed to analyze the photosynthetic characteristics of 258 sugarcane varieties at different leaf positions over three consecutive years in field experiments. The results showed significant differences in photosynthetic characteristics among genotypes, years, and leaf positions. Heritability estimates for various photosynthetic parameters ranged from 0.76 to 0.88. Principal component analysis revealed that the first three principal components accounted for over 99% of the cumulative variance. The first component represented photosynthetic efficiency and light utilization, the second focused on electron transfer and reaction center status, and the third was associated with chlorophyll content. Cluster and discriminant analysis classified sugarcane genotypes into three categories: high photosynthetic efficiency (HPE) with 86 genotypes, medium photosynthetic efficiency (MPE) with 60 genotypes, and low photosynthetic efficiency (LPE) with 112 genotypes. Multi-year trials confirmed that HPE sugarcane genotypes had higher single-stem weight and sucrose content. This study provides valuable insights into the photosynthetic physiological characteristics of different sugarcane varieties, which can contribute to further research regarding high yields and sugar breeding

A high-throughput phenotyping method for sugarcane rind penetrometer resistance and breaking force characterization by near-infrared spectroscopy

Abstract Background Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is the core crop for sugar and bioethanol production over the world. A major problem in sugarcane production is stalk lodging due to weak mechanical strength. Rind penetrometer resistance (RPR) and breaking force are two kinds of regular parameters for mechanical strength characterization. However, due to the lack of efficient methods for determining RPR and breaking force in sugarcane, genetic approaches for improving these traits are generally limited. This study was designed to use near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) calibration assay to accurately assess mechanical strength on a high-throughput basis for the first time. Results Based on well-established laboratory measurements of sugarcane stalk internodes collected in the years 2019 and 2020, considerable variations in RPR and breaking force were observed in the stalk internodes. Following a standard NIRS calibration process, two online models were obtained with a high coefficient of determination (R 2 ) and the ratio of prediction to deviation (RPD) values during calibration, internal cross-validation, and external validation. Remarkably, the equation for RPR exhibited R 2 and RPD values as high as 0.997 and 17.70, as well as showing relatively low root mean square error values at 0.44 N mm−2 during global modeling, demonstrating excellent predictive performance. Conclusions This study delivered a successful attempt for rapid and precise prediction of rind penetrometer resistance and breaking force in sugarcane stalk by NIRS assay. These established models can be used to improve phenotyping jobs for sugarcane germplasm on a large scale

Presentation_1_A high-throughput phenotyping assay for precisely determining stalk crushing strength in large-scale sugarcane germplasm.pptx

Sugarcane is a major industrial crop around the world. Lodging due to weak mechanical strength is one of the main problems leading to huge yield losses in sugarcane. However, due to the lack of high efficiency phenotyping methods for stalk mechanical strength characterization, genetic approaches for lodging-resistant improvement are severely restricted. This study attempted to apply near-infrared spectroscopy high-throughput assays for the first time to estimate the crushing strength of sugarcane stalks. A total of 335 sugarcane samples with huge variation in stalk crushing strength were collected for online NIRS modeling. A comprehensive analysis demonstrated that the calibration and validation sets were comparable. By applying a modified partial least squares method, we obtained high-performance equations that had large coefficients of determination (R2 > 0.80) and high ratio performance deviations (RPD > 2.4). Particularly, when the calibration and external validation sets combined for an integrative modeling, we obtained the final equation with a coefficient of determination (R2) and ratio performance deviation (RPD) above 0.9 and 3.0, respectively, demonstrating excellent prediction capacity. Additionally, the obtained model was applied for characterization of stalk crushing strength in large-scale sugarcane germplasm. In a three-year study, the genetic characteristics of stalk crushing strength were found to remain stable, and the optimal sugarcane genotypes were screened out consistently. In conclusion, this study offers a feasible option for a high-throughput analysis of sugarcane mechanical strength, which can be used for the breeding of lodging resistant sugarcane and beyond.</p