Integration of GWAS and transcriptome analyses to identify SNPs and candidate genes for aluminum tolerance in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)

The exchangeable aluminum (Al), released from the acid soils, is another addition to the environmental stress factors in the form of Al toxicity stress. Al stress affects the normal crop development and reduces the overall yield of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). The response mechanism of plants to Al toxicity is complicated and difficult to understand with few QTL related studies in rapeseed under Al toxicity stress

Antifungal active ingredient from the twigs and leaves of Clausena lansium Lour. Skeels (Rutaceae)

Two novel amides, named clauphenamides A and B, and twelve other known compounds were isolated from the twigs and leaves of Clausena lansium Lour. Skeels (Rutaceae). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis and comparison with data reported in the literature. Clauphenamide A (1) featured in the unit of N-2-(4,8-dimethoxyfuro [2,3-b]quinolin-7-yl)vinyl, and clauphenamide B (2) was a unprecedented N-phenethyl cinnamide dimer. Other known compounds belong to pyrrolidone amides (3 and 4), furacoumarins (7–10), simple coumarins (11–14), lignan (5) and sesquiterpene (6). Compounds 5, 6, 10 and 12 were separated from the genus (Clausena) for the first time, while 13 was isolated in the species (C. lansium) for the first time. The antifungal activities of the isolated compounds were assayed. As a result, at the concentration of 100 μg/ml, compared with the control (chlorothalonil, inhibition rate of 83.67%), compounds 1 and 2 were found to exhibit moderate antifungal activity against B. dothidea with inhibition rates of 68.39% and 52.05%, respectively. Compounds 11–14 also exhibited moderate activity against B. dothidea and F. oxysporum, with inhibition rates greater than 40%. In addition, compared with the control (chlorothalonil, inhibition rate of 69.02%), compounds 11–14 showed strong antifungal activity to P. oryzae, with inhibition rates greater than 55%. Among them, compound 14 has the strongest antifungal activity against P. oryzae, and the inhibition rate (65.44%) is close to that of the control chlorothalonil. Additionally, the structure-activity relationships of the separated compounds are also discussed preliminarily in this paper

Complete chloroplast genome sequences of three aroideae species (Araceae): lights into selective pressure, marker development and phylogenetic relationships

Background: Colocasia gigantea, Caladium bicolor and Xanthosoma sagittifolium are three worldwide famous ornamental and/or vegetable plants in the Araceae family, these species in the subfamily Aroideae are phylogenetically perplexing due to shared interspecifc morphological traits and variation. Result: This study, for the frst time ever, assembled and analyzed complete chloroplast genomes of C. gigantea, C. bicolor and X. sagittifolium with genome sizes of 165,906bp, 153,149bp and 165,169bp in length, respectively. The genomes were composed of conserved quadripartite circular structures with a total of 131 annotated genes, including 8 rRNA, 37 tRNA and 86 protein-coding genes. A comparison within Aroideae showed seven protein-coding genes (accD, ndhF, ndhK, rbcL, rpoC1, rpoC2 and matK) linked to environmental adaptation. Phylogenetic analysis confrmed a close relationship of C. gigantea with C. esculenta and S. colocasiifolia, and the C. bicolor with X. sagittifolium. Furthermore, three DNA barcodes (atpH-atpI+psaC-ndhE, atpH-atpI+trnS-trnG, atpH-atpI+psaC-ndhE+trnS-trnG) harbored highly variable regions to distinguish species in Aroideae subfamily. Conclusion: These results would be benefcial for species identifcation, phylogenetic relationship, genetic diversity, and potential of germplasm resources in Aroidea

Genetic improvement of resistance to blast and bacterial blight of the elite maintainer line Rongfeng B in hybrid rice (Oryza sativa L.) by using marker-assisted selection

Rice blast caused by the fungus Magnaporthe grisea and bacterial blight (BB) caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. Oryzae (Xoo) are two major rice diseases in the world. An elite, early maturing maintainer line of hybrid rice, Rongfeng B hybrid rice is susceptible to both blast and BB. For improving its diseases resistance, BL122 and CBB23 were used as the donors of blast resistance genes Pi1 and Pi2 and BB resistance gene Xa23, respectively. These resistant genes were introgressed into Rongfeng B by using a marker-assisted backcross breeding programs, and two improved lines D521 and D524 with Pi1, Pi2 and Xa23 were developed. The results indicated that both improved lines showed high resistance to leaf and neck blast and BB. The resistance frequencies for the rice blast and the length of lesions resulting from BB ranged from 96.7 to 100% and 0.77 to 1.18 cm, respectively. The two improved lines showed the desired variation in the majority of evaluated agronomic traits, including the number of grains per panicle, the grains weight, plant height, and seed setting rate. A new cytoplasmic male sterile line, Rongfeng 3A, with Pi1, Pi2, and Xa23, was successfully developed through successive backcross breeding.Keywords: Gene pyramiding, marker-assisted backcross breeding, rice blast, bacterial bligh

Global Analysis of UDP Glucose Pyrophosphorylase (UDPGP) Gene Family in Plants: Conserved Evolution Involved in Cell Death

UDP glucose pyrophosphorylase (UDPGP) family genes have been reported to play essential roles in cell death or individual survival. However, a systematic analysis on UDPGP gene family has not been performed yet. In this study, a total of 454 UDPGP proteins from 76 different species were analyzed. The analyses of the phylogenetic tree and orthogroups divided UDPGPs into three clades, including UDP-N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase (UAP), UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (UGP, containing UGP-A and UGP-B), and UDP-sugar pyrophosphorylase (USP). The evolutionary history of the UDPGPs indicated that the members of UAP, USP, and UGP-B were relatively conserved while varied in UGP-A. Homologous sequences of UGP-B and USP were found only in plants. The expression profile of UDPGP genes in Oryza sativa was mainly motivated under jasmonic acid (JA), abscisic acid (ABA), cadmium, and cold treatments, indicating that UDPGPs may play an important role in plant development and environment endurance. The key amino acids regulating the activity of UDPGPs were analyzed, and almost all of them were located in the NB-loop, SB-loop, or conserved motifs. Analysis of the natural variants of UDPGPs in rice revealed that only a few missense mutants existed in coding sequences (CDSs), and most of the resulting variations were located in the non-motif sites, indicating the conserved structure and function of UDPGPs in the evolution. Furthermore, alternative splicing may play a key role in regulating the activity of UDPGPs. The spatial structure prediction, enzymatic analysis, and transgenic verification of UAP isoforms illustrated that the loss of N- and C-terminal sequences did not affect the overall 3D structures, but the N- and C-terminal sequences are important for UAP genes to maintain their enzymatic activity. These results revealed a conserved UDPGP gene family and provided valuable information for further deep functional investigation of the UDPGP gene family in plants

Ethnopharmacokinetic- and Activity-Guided Isolation of a New Antidepressive Compound from Fructus Aurantii Found in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Chaihu-Shugan-San: A New Approach and Its Application

Aims. We aimed to identify an antidepressive compound found in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) by a new approach called ethnopharmacokinetic- and activity-guided isolation (EAGI). Methods. The new approach targets an unknown chromatographic peak produced by an absorbed compound found in oral Chaihu-Shugan-San (CSS) taken by patients with depression. Once the compound was isolated from Fructus Aurantii (FA), spectral data was employed to identify the compound. The effects of this compound, FA, and CSS on depressive behaviors were investigated. Results. The identified compound was merazin hydrate (MH) according to the new approach. MH, FA, and CSS significantly reduced immobility time and increased locomotor activity. The effects of MH, FA and CSS were similar to Fluoxetine at high doses. Conclusion. MH, a compound whose antidepressive effect is similar to FA and CSS, was isolated for the first time from FA via targeting its corresponding unknown chromatographic peak, and its antidepressive effect was compared with FA or CSS. These findings highlight the potential for drug R&D and pharmacological research of ∼100,000 TCMs

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of the Dioscorea persimilis Prain et Burkill (Dioscoreaceae)

Dioscorea persimilis belongs to Dioscorea genus, which is considered as one of the most popular food and traditional folk medicine in China. The complete chloroplast genome of D. persimilis was determined in this study. The total genome size was 153,219 bp in length, containing a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) of 25,477 bp, which were separated by large single copy (LSC) and small single copy (SSC) of 83,448 bp and 18,817 bp, respectively. The GC content is 37.01%. A total of 129 genes were predicted including 84 protein-coding genes, eight rRNA genes and 37 tRNA genes. Phylogenetic tree analysis of 24 species in the genus Dioscorea indicated that D. persimilis was closer to Chinese yam, but has remote phylogenetic relationship with Guinea yam