The effect of β-cyclocitral treatment on the carotenoid content of transgenic Marsh grapefruit (Citrus paradisi Macf.) suspension-cultured cells

Zheng, Xiongjie, Zhu, Kaijie, Ye, Junli, Price, Elliott J., Deng, Xiuxin, Fraser, Paul D. (2020): The effect of β-cyclocitral treatment on the carotenoid content of transgenic Marsh grapefruit (Citrus paradisi Macf.) suspension-cultured cells. Phytochemistry (112509) 180: 1-8, DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2020.112509, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2020.11250

Research on Correlation Analysis Method for Nuclear Power Operation Data Based on Multi-Scale Time Window

[Introduction] Nuclear power operation data is characterized by high dimension and large volume, and the complexity of the internal system of nuclear power plant makes it difficult to build a corresponding mechanism model. Therefore, it is very difficult to manually screen out relevant parameters from nuclear power data, and the introduction of non-relevant parameters will greatly affect the accuracy of the model. By means of improving the model accuracy, the purpose of accurate modeling can be reached. [Method] This paper proposed a correlation analysis method based on multi-scale time window. This method extracted state switch points for target parameters, classifies each sensor according to the characteristics of the data recorded by different sensors, and then designs detection windows for different kinds of sensors that meet their characteristics. The state switch detection was carried out in the corresponding time neighborhood of each sensor, and the correlation matching rate between each sensor and the target sensor was calculated to judge the correlation. [Result] Based on the actual historical operation data of nuclear power plant, the sensor parameters associated with the target sensor are selected successfully by the established correlation matching rate rule. [Conclusion] The experimental results show that the proposed method can screen out the correlation parameters more accurately. Compared with the commonly used Pearson correlation coefficient, the proposed method is more accurate

A new screening method of low permeability reservoirs suitable for CO2 flooding

Since the existing gas flooding reservoir screening criteria lack economic indexes reflecting future dynamic production performances, indexes reflecting economic profits are added into the exiting criteria (related to well oil production rate) to form a new method of selecting low permeability reservoirs suitable for CO2 flooding. Reservoir engineering methods of average well peak oil production rate prediction for gas drive is given by employing the concept of “Oil production rate multiplier due to gas flooding”. Based on the principles of technical economics, the method calculating the economical limit well oil production rate of CO2 flooding is also presented. On this basis, a new screening criterion of reservoirs suitable for CO2 flooding is proposed: if the peak well oil production rate predicted by reservoir engineering method is higher than the economic limit well oil production rate, the target reservoir is suitable for CO2 flooding. Furthermore, a four-step reservoirs screening method is advanced: technical screening, economic screening, fine feasibility evaluation, recommendation of optimal gas flooding blocks. The new screening criteria were applied to evaluate the CO2 flooding potential of seventeen blocks in an oilfield, which ended up with only 32.4% of the original oil in place from conventional method suitable for CO2 flooding. It is recommended blocks suitable for CO2 flooding be selected according to the new procedure to ensure economic success. Key words: CO2 flooding, low permeability reservoirs, screening criterion, oil production rate multiplier due to gas flooding, reservoir engineering method, economic limit well oil production rat

SLAF-Based Construction of a High-Density Genetic Map and Its Application in QTL Mapping of Carotenoids Content in Citrus Fruit

Carotenoids are important antioxidant components in the human diet. To develop carotenoid-rich agricultural products by genetic intervention, understanding the genetic basis of carotenoids variation is essential. In this study, we constructed a high-density integrated genetic map with 3817 molecular markers using specific locus amplified fragment (SLAF) sequencing from a <i>C. reticulata</i> × <i>P. trifoliata</i> F₁ pseudotestcross population. A total of 17 significant quantitative trait loci (QTLs) distributed on Chromosomes (Chr) 2, 3, 5, 6, and 9 were detected to determine the carotenoid variation in the population. In particular, three QTL colocalizations for multiple carotenoid constituents were observed on Chr 2, 3, and 9, one of which was located on Chr2:34,654,608–35430715 accounted for 20.1–25.4% of the variation of luteoxanthin, auroxanthin, lutein, violaxanthin, and total carotenoid content. Overall, this study provides a genetic foundation for marker-assisted selection (MAS) breeding of nutritionally enhanced citrus fruit

Contrasting carbon cycle along tropical forest aridity gradients in West Africa and Amazonia

Tropical forests cover large areas of equatorial Africa and play a substantial role in the global carbon cycle. However, there has been a lack of biometric measurements to understand the forests’ gross and net primary productivity (GPP, NPP) and their allocation. Here we present a detailed field assessment of the carbon budget of multiple forest sites in Africa, by monitoring 14 one-hectare plots along an aridity gradient in Ghana, West Africa. When compared with an equivalent aridity gradient in Amazonia, the studied West African forests generally had higher productivity and lower carbon use efficiency (CUE). The West African aridity gradient consistently shows the highest NPP, CUE, GPP, and autotrophic respiration at a medium-aridity site, Bobiri. Notably, NPP and GPP of the site are the highest yet reported anywhere for intact forests. Widely used data products substantially underestimate productivity when compared to biometric measurements in Amazonia and Africa. Our analysis suggests that the high productivity of the African forests is linked to their large GPP allocation to canopy and semi-deciduous characteristics.</p

Regulation of carotenoid and chlorophyll pools in hesperidia, anatomically unique fruits found only in Citrus

Domesticated citrus varieties are woody perennials and interspecific hybrid crops of global economic and nutritional importance. The citrus fruit “hesperidium” is a unique morphological innovation not found in any other plant lineage. Efforts to improve the nutritional quality of the fruit are predicated on understanding the underlying regulatory mechanisms responsible for fruit development, including temporal control of chlorophyll degradation and carotenoid biosynthesis. Here, we investigated the molecular basis of the navel orange (Citrus sinensis) brown flavedo mutation, which conditions flavedo that is brown instead of orange. To overcome the limitations of using traditional genetic approaches in citrus and other woody perennials, we developed a strategy to elucidate the underlying genetic lesion. We used a multi-omics approach to collect data from several genetic sources and plant chimeras to successfully decipher this mutation. The multi-omics strategy applied here will be valuable in driving future gene discovery efforts in citrus as well as in other woody perennial plants. The comparison of transcriptomic and genomic data from multiple genotypes and plant sectors revealed an underlying lesion in the gene encoding STAY-GREEN (SGR) protein, which simultaneously regulates carotenoid biosynthesis and chlorophyll degradation. However, unlike SGR of other plant species, we found that the carotenoid and chlorophyll regulatory activities could be uncoupled in the case of certain SGR alleles in citrus and thus we propose a model for the molecular mechanism underlying the brown flavedo phenotype. The economic and nutritional value of citrus makes these findings of wide interest. The strategy implemented, and the results obtained, constitute an advance for agro-industry by driving opportunities for citrus crop improvement