Stone formation in peach fruit exhibits spatial coordination of the lignin and flavonoid pathways and similarity to Arabidopsis dehiscence

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Lignification of the fruit endocarp layer occurs in many angiosperms and plays a critical role in seed protection and dispersal. This process has been extensively studied with relationship to pod shatter or dehiscence in <it>Arabidopsis</it>. Dehiscence is controlled by a set of transcription factors that define the fruit tissue layers and whether or not they lignify. In contrast, relatively little is known about similar processes in other plants such as stone fruits which contain an extremely hard lignified endocarp or stone surrounding a single seed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here we show that lignin deposition in peach initiates near the blossom end within the endocarp layer and proceeds in a distinct spatial-temporal pattern. Microarray studies using a developmental series from young fruits identified a sharp and transient induction of phenylpropanoid, lignin and flavonoid pathway genes concurrent with lignification and subsequent stone hardening. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction studies revealed that specific phenylpropanoid (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and cinnamate 4-hydroxylase) and lignin (caffeoyl-CoA O-methyltransferase, peroxidase and laccase) pathway genes were induced in the endocarp layer over a 10 day time period, while two lignin genes (<it>p-</it>coumarate 3-hydroxylase and cinnamoyl CoA reductase) were co-regulated with flavonoid pathway genes (chalcone synthase, dihydroflavanol 4-reductase, leucoanthocyanidin dioxygen-ase and flavanone-3-hydrosylase) which were mesocarp and exocarp specific. Analysis of other fruit development expression studies revealed that flavonoid pathway induction is conserved in the related Rosaceae species apple while lignin pathway induction is not. The transcription factor expression of peach genes homologous to known endocarp determinant genes in <it>Arabidopsis </it>including <it>SHATTERPROOF</it>, <it>SEEDSTCK </it>and <it>NAC SECONDARY WALL THICENING PROMOTING FACTOR 1 </it>were found to be specifically expressed in the endocarp while the negative regulator <it>FRUITFU</it>L predominated in exocarp and mesocarp.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Collectively, the data suggests, first, that the process of endocarp determination and differentiation in peach and <it>Arabidopsis </it>share common regulators and, secondly, reveals a previously unknown coordination of competing lignin and flavonoid biosynthetic pathways during early fruit development.</p

Measurement of the prompt J/psi and psi(2S) polarizations in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV

The polarizations of prompt J/psi and psi(2S) mesons are measured in proton-proton collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV, using a dimuon data sample collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.9 inverse femtobarns. The prompt J/psi and psi(2S) polarization parameters lambda[theta], lambda[phi], and lambda[theta, phi], as well as the frame-invariant quantity lambda(tilde), are measured from the dimuon decay angular distributions in three different polarization frames. The J/psi results are obtained in the transverse momentum range 14 &lt; pt &lt; 70 GeV, in the rapidity intervals abs(y) &lt; 0.6 and 0.6 &lt; abs(y) &lt; 1.2. The corresponding psi(2S) results cover 14 &lt; pt &lt; 50 GeV and include a third rapidity bin, 1.2 &lt; abs(y) &lt; 1.5. No evidence of large transverse or longitudinal polarizations is seen in these kinematic regions, which extend much beyond those previously explored

Preface to the Special Issue

The CGIAR, formerly the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, was established in 1971 to support investments in research and technology development geared toward increasing food production in the food-deficit countries of the world. Japan has cooperated with the CGIAR since becoming a member in 1972 and has made significant contributions in terms of both financial and human resources. In 2021, the CGIAR celebrates its 50th anniversary. This Special Issue brings together the contributions of Japan and Japanese researchers to sustainable food system transformation. It includes a review article on CGIAR’s international agricultural research and the role of Japan. There are 14 review papers from individual CGIAR Research Centers specialized in their respective fields, ranging from crops, livestock, forestry, fisheries, and natural resource management to policies, and an article from the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) that has long-term collaboration with the CGIAR. This introductory paper will briefly provide the background and rationale for this Special Issue and a short introduction of the papers presented herein

Decomposition kinetic study, spectroscopic and pyrolytic analyses of Isoberlinia doka and Pinus ponderosa

Two woody species of different origins were subjected to Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and analytical pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). FlynnWall-Ozawa, a model-free technique, was adopted for the decomposition kinetic study of Isoberlinia doka (ID) and Pinus ponderosa (PP). FTIR spectroscopy was employed to determine the level of cellulose crystallinity in the samples under investigation using the total crystallinity and lateral order indices methods. The apparent activation energy appeared as a function of conversion with significant influence from biomass diversity. The apparent activation energy recorded values of 202 to 365 kJ mol−1 for ID and 205 to 583 kJ mol−1 for PP. Thus, biomass decomposition kinetics is better modeled as a multi-step reaction mechanism. The analytical Py-GC/MS showed the presence of acids, sugars, and phenolic compounds in significant proportions for the two biomass samples. There were marked distinctions in both the quantity and the individual compounds detected in the biomass samples that were investigated

The Case On Assessment Of Spilled Oil With Mixed Free Product In Seoul

The purpose of this study is to assess sources of contamination by analyzing the free product and oil compounds in groundwater near the Subway Station, located adjacent to the Yongsan Garrison in Seoul, Republic of Korea. All of the samples collected twice were groundwater and free product in a monitoring well. Analysis items are TPH fingerprinting, pristine/phytane ratio, alkylbenzene pattern, PAH&alkyl PAH, antioxidant, icing inhibitor, PIANO, element(C, N, H), and sulfur. Using ratio of pristine/phytane, we were able to distinguished fuel type between kerosene and JP-8 samples, which was impossible by GC/FID pattern. Alkyl benzene pattern was very effective in distinguishing between JP-8 and kerosene. It is very important that 2,4-dimethyl-6-tert-butyl phenol, an antioxidant used only for JP-8, was detected in free product samples. The concentration of sulfur in kerosene fuel is much lower than that of JP-8, and the total contents of sulfur in environmental samples can be used to differentiate the fuel type of spilled oil between kerosene and JP-8. In conclusion, according to the result of a variety of analytical methods to find the source of spilled fuel, it had been found that the fuel type detected in the tunnel of subway station and monitoring wells outside of Yongsan Garrison and the monitoring wells inside of Yongsan Garrison are the same