Decoding Plant–Environment Interactions That Influence Crop Agronomic Traits

To ensure food security in the face of increasing global demand due to population growth and progressive urbanization, it will be crucial to integrate emerging technologies in multiple disciplines to accelerate overall throughput of gene discovery and crop breeding. Plant agronomic traits often appear during the plants’ later growth stages due to the cumulative effects of their lifetime interactions with the environment. Therefore, decoding plant–environment interactions by elucidating plants’ temporal physiological responses to environmental changes throughout their lifespans will facilitate the identification of genetic and environmental factors, timing and pathways that influence complex end-point agronomic traits, such as yield. Here, we discuss the expected role of the life-course approach to monitoring plant and crop health status in improving crop productivity by enhancing the understanding of plant–environment interactions. We review recent advances in analytical technologies for monitoring health status in plants based on multi-omics analyses and strategies for integrating heterogeneous datasets from multiple omics areas to identify informative factors associated with traits of interest. In addition, we showcase emerging phenomics techniques that enable the noninvasive and continuous monitoring of plant growth by various means, including three-dimensional phenotyping, plant root phenotyping, implantable/injectable sensors and affordable phenotyping devices. Finally, we present an integrated review of analytical technologies and applications for monitoring plant growth, developed across disciplines, such as plant science, data science and sensors and Internet-of-things technologies, to improve plant productivity

Myotube migration to cover and shape the testis of Drosophila depends on Heartless, Cadherin/Catenin, and myosin II

During Drosophila metamorphosis, nascent testis myotubes migrate from the prospective seminal vesicle of the genital disc onto pupal testes and then further to cover the testes with multinucleated smooth-like muscles. Here we show that DWnt2 is likely required for determination of testis-relevant myoblasts on the genital disc. Knock down of fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) heartless by RNAi and a dominant-negative version revealed multiple functions of Heartless, namely regulation of the amount of myoblasts on the genital disc, connection of seminal vesicles and testes, and migration of muscles along the testes. Live imaging indicated that the downstream effector Stumps is required for migration of testis myotubes on the testis towards the apical tip. After myoblast fusion, myosin II is needed for migration of nascent testis myotubes, in which Thisbe-dependent fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling is activated. Cadherin-N is essential for connecting these single myofibers and for creating a firm testis muscle sheath that shapes and stabilizes the testis tubule. Based on these results, we propose a model for the migration of testis myotubes in which nascent testis myotubes migrate as a collective onto and along the testis, dependent on FGF-regulated expression of myosin II

Enzymatic and Non-Enzymatic Mechanisms Contribute to Lipid Oxidation During Seed Aging

International audienc

Acute hepatitis A virus infection in Turkey

Anti-HAV IgM positive serum samples from acute phase hepatitis A patients from various areas in Turkey were tested for viral RNA by RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction), using primer pairs from two different regions of the HAV genome. The PCR products amplified from both genomic regions underwent phylogenetic analyses. A comparison of the regions showed the same genotyping results, and the RT-PCR-2 in the 5'NCR demonstrated greater sensitivity compared to RT-PCR-1 in the VP1-P2A region. The majority of the isolates belonged to genotype IB and are related closely to each other; however, two isolates related even more strongly to the HAV HM175 strain. Two (n = 37) RT-PCR positive sera were classified under genotype IA. A surprising finding emerged for the mean levels of serum transaminases AST and ALT: higher levels were found in patients under 10 years of age compared to older patients. Anti-HAV IgM levels were determined quantitatively and, in addition, the HAV-RNA genome equivalents were ascertained by real time RT-PCR. No evidence was found for an association between viral load and the higher transaminase levels in the younger group. J. Med Virol. 80.785-790, 2008. (C) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc

Walnut (Juglans regia L.) kernel postharvest deterioration as affected by pellicle integrity, cultivar and oxygen concentration

Increased demand for convenient, healthy foods has promoted the commercialization of shelled, more perishable walnut kernels. In this work for two of the major commercial walnut cultivars (‘Chandler’ and ‘Howard’) we determined the influence that disruption of the integrity of the seed coat pellicle during shelling operations trigger postharvest deterioration. Commercially mature ‘Chandler’ and ‘Howard’ nuts were subjected to Gentle (GS, <4% pellicle area damaged per kernel) or Harsh Shelling (HS, 20–22% of pellicle area damaged) and stored in air at 25 or 35 °C (accelerated aging) for three or six weeks. During this period, which simulated current marketing and retail display, we evaluated kernel color changes (Dried Fruit Association of California ‘DFA’ scale, L* and Hue), ethanol-soluble phenolic antioxidants, oil-free fatty acids (FFA), and peroxide value (PV). The kernel color changed from ‘light’ to ‘amber’ during storage, as demonstrated by the decrease in extra light and light kernels and by the reduced lightness (L*) and Hue values. Pellicle browning (amber) incidence was common on HS kernels, which also lost more phenolic antioxidants during storage. Minimizing pellicle damage by GS operations reduced triglyceride hydrolysis and peroxidation. Kernel quality loss was largely dependent on cultivar; browning oxidation, and lipid hydrolysis and oxidation were faster in ‘Howard’ than in ‘Chandler’. Searching for a practical and direct postharvest technology, in absence of proper temperature control, to reduce the rate of kernel deterioration, we tested controlled atmospheres (CA) at different O2 concentrations (0.0, 3.0, 6.0 or 21.0 kPa) on both cultivars. Overall, commercially shelled ‘Howard’ and ‘Chandler’ (kernels) will benefit from retail packaging with oxygen concentrations equal to or lower than 3.0 kPa during warm retail display. This information will be useful for processors, distributors and produce handlers to protect snack-friendly, ready-to-eat walnuts.Fil: Ortiz, Cristian Matias. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Vicente, Ariel Roberto. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales. Laboratorio de Investigación en Productos Agroindustriales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Fields, Rika P.. University of California at Davis; Estados UnidosFil: Grillo, Filipa. University of California at Davis; Estados UnidosFil: Labavitch, John M.. University of California at Davis; Estados UnidosFil: Donis Gonzalez, Irwin. University of California at Davis; Estados UnidosFil: Crisosto, Carlos H.. University of California at Davis; Estados Unido