Impacts of leaf removal and shoot thinning on cumulative daily light intensity and thermal time and their cascading effects of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) berry and wine chemistry in warm climates

Bioprospecting endophytic fungi for bioactive metabolites with seed germination promoting potentials

There is an urgent need for new bioactive molecules with unique mechanisms of action and chemistry to address the issue of incorrect use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which hurts both the environment and the health of humans. In light of this, research was done for this work to isolate, identify, and evaluate the germination-promoting potential of various plant species' fungal endophytes. Zea mays L. (maize) seed germination was examined using spore suspension of 75 different endophytic strains that were identified. Three promising strains were identified through screening to possess the ability mentioned above. These strains Alternaria alternate, Aspergilus flavus, and Aspergillus terreus were isolated from the stem of Tecoma stans, Delonix regia, and Ricinus communis, respectively. The ability of the three endophytic fungal strains to produce siderophore and indole acetic acid (IAA) was also examined. Compared to both Aspergillus flavus as well as Aspergillus terreus, Alternaria alternata recorded the greatest rates of IAA, according to the data that was gathered. On CAS agar versus blue media, all three strains failed to produce siderophores. Moreover, the antioxidant and antifungal potentials of extracts from these fungi were tested against different plant pathogens. The obtained results indicated the antioxidant and antifungal activities of the three fungal strains. GC-Mass studies were carried out to determine the principal components in extracts of all three strains of fungi. The three strains' fungus extracts included both well-known and previously unidentified bioactive compounds. These results may aid in the development of novel plant growth promoters by suggesting three different fungal strains as sources of compounds that may improve seed germination. According to the study that has been given, as unexplored sources of bioactive compounds, fungal endophytes have great potential.

SmEIL1 transcription factor inhibits tanshinone accumulation in response to ethylene signaling in Salvia miltiorrhiza

Among the bioactive compounds, lipid-soluble tanshinone is present in Salvia miltiorrhiza, a medicinal plant species. While it is known that ethephon has the ability to inhibit the tanshinones biosynthesis in the S. miltiorrhiza hairy root, however the underlying regulatory mechanism remains obscure. In this study, using the transcriptome dataset of the S. miltiorrhiza hairy root induced by ethephon, an ethylene-responsive transcriptional factor EIN3-like 1 (SmEIL1) was identified. The SmEIL1 protein was found to be localized in the nuclei, and confirmed by the transient transformation observed in tobacco leaves. The overexpression of SmEIL1 was able to inhibit the tanshinones accumulation to a large degree, as well as down-regulate tanshinones biosynthetic genes including SmGGPPS1, SmHMGR1, SmHMGS1, SmCPS1, SmKSL1 and SmCYP76AH1. These are well recognized participants in the tanshinones biosynthesis pathway. Further investigation on the SmEIL1 was observed to inhibit the transcription of the CPS1 gene by the Dual-Luciferase (Dual-LUC) and yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) assays. The data in this work will be of value regarding the involvement of EILs in regulating the biosynthesis of tanshinones and lay the foundation for the metabolic engineering of bioactive ingredients in S. miltiorrhiza.

Effects of different drying methods on Rubus chingii Hu fruit during processing

In this study, the dried fruits of Rubus chingii Hu (Chinese name: Fu-Pen-Zi; FPZ) were processed and dried by three methods-in the shade, the sun, and the oven. The composition regarding the standard ingredient, color, and antioxidant capacities were investigated pro- and post-processing. The technique of headspace-solid-phase-microextraction-gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) and flavoromics were used to analyze the flavor-conferring metabolites of FPZ. The results obtained revealed that the highest use value and antioxidant capacities were detected in the FPZ fruits processed and dried in the shade. A total of 358 metabolites were detected from them mainly consisting of terpenoids, heterocyclic compounds, and esters. In differential analysis, the down-regulation of the metabolites was much greater than their up-regulation after all three drying methods. In an evaluation of the characteristic compounds and flavors produced after the three methods, there were variations mainly regarding the green and fruity odors. Therefore, considerable insights may be obtained for the development of novel agricultural methods and applications in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries by analyzing and comparing the variations in the chemical composition detected pre- and post-processing of the FPZ fruits. This paper provides a scientific basis for quality control in fruits and their clinical applications.

The effects of different rootstocks on aroma components, activities and genes expression of aroma-related enzymes in oriental melon fruit

Grafting is widely applied in the cultivation of melon. In this study, 'Qinmi No.1' (Cucumis melo L.(QG)) and 'Ribenxuesong' (Cucurbita maxima Duch. (RG)) were used as rootstocks for 'Qingxin Yangjiaocui' (Cucumis melo L.). The results showed that grafting with muskmelon rootstocks had no significant effect on fruit aroma, but grafting with pumpkin rootstocks significantly reduced the odor intensity and odor preference scores of melon fruits. Compared with the fruits from self-grafted plants (SG), four new aromatic volatiles with a sweet smell were detected, the alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity was significantly decreased at 30 DAP, but unaffected at 42 DAP in QG fruits. There was no difference for alcohol acetyltransferase (AAT) activity between QG and SG fruits. The expression level of CmADH2 was significantly higher at 30 DAP and 42 DAP, but CmAAT2 was significantly lower at 42 DAP in QG fruits compared with SG fruits. In RG fruits, the main aroma compounds including butanoic acid ethyl ester, 2-methyl-2-butene-1-al, and 2-methylheptan-1-al were absent, while the volatile compounds with unpleasant odor characteristics including trans, cis-2,6-nonadien-1-ol, (E,E)-2,4-heptadienal, octanoic acid, and styrene were detected. Compared with SG fruits, 1-nonanol and 1-heptanol with green odor characteristics were significantly increased, but eucalyptol and farnesene with fruity aroma characteristics were significantly decreased in RG fruits. The ADH activity of RG fruits was significantly lower than that of SG fruits at 30 DAP and the AAT activity was significantly lower than that of SG fruits at 42 DAP. In addition, the expression levels of CmADH and CmAAT homologs in RG fruits were significantly lower than those in SG or QG fruits. These results show that grafting with pumpkin rootstocks affected the main aroma components, reduced ADH and AAT activities, and down-regulated the expression levels of CmADHs and CmAATs in the melon fruits. This study reveals the mechanism of different rootstocks on melon fruit aroma quality, and lays a theoretical foundation for the selection of rootstocks in melon production. Future studies using overexpression or CRISPR/CAS system to obtain stable transgenic lines of genes encoding key aromatic volatiles, would be promising to effectively improve the flavor quality of melon.

Comprehensive biochemical approach for understanding the interaction between host "common bean" and pathogen "Colletotrichum lindemuthianum" causing bean anthracnose

Anthracnose (ANT) caused by Colletotrichum lindemuthianum is the most devastating seed-borne fungal disease of common bean. In response to fungal infections, it is hypothesized that pathogen-plant interactions typically cause hypersensitive reactions by producing reactive oxygen species, hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxidation of cell membranes. esent study was conducted by inoculating susceptible bean genotype "SB174" and resistant bean genotype "E10" with pathogen "C. lindemuthianum". Defense-related enzymes (ascorbate peroxidase, peroxidase, lipid peroxidase, and catalase) and C-based compounds (total phenols and flavonoids) were studied using the detached bean leaf method. Comparative defense response was studied in different plant tissues (pod, stem, and seed) in susceptible and resistant bean genotypes under uninoculated and pathogen-inoculated conditions. The host‒pathogen interaction was studied at mock inoculation, 2, 4 and 6 days after inoculation (dai). Comparing the pathogen-inoculated bean leaves to water-treated bean leaves, defense enzymes as well as total phenols and flavonoids exhibited differential expression. In a comparative study, the enzyme activity also displayed differential biochemical responses in pods, stems and seeds in both contrasting genotypes. For example, 5.1-fold (pod), 1.5-fold (stem) and 1.06-fold (seed) increases in ascorbate peroxidase activity were observed in the susceptible genotype at 6 dai compared to mock inoculation. Similarly, catalase activity in pods was upregulated (1.47-fold) in the resistant genotype and downregulated (1.30-fold) in the susceptible genotype at 6 dai. The study revealed that defense-related antioxidative enzymes, phenols and flavonoids are fine-tuned to detoxify important reactive oxygen species (ROS) molecules, induce systemic resistance and are successfully controlled in common bean plants against pathogen invasion.

SARS-CoV-2 infection and dysregulation of nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a recent pandemic caused by a novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) leading to pulmonary and extra-pulmonary manifestations due to the development of oxidative stress (OS) and hyperinflammation. The underlying cause for OS and hyperinflammation in COVID-19 may be related to the inhibition of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a master regulator of antioxidative responses and cellular homeostasis. The Nrf2 pathway inhibits the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the development of cytokine storm and OS in COVID-19. Nrf2 activators can attenuate endothelial dysfunction (ED), renin-angiotensin system (RAS) dysregulation, immune thrombosis, and coagulopathy. Hence, this review aimed to reveal the potential role of the Nrf2 pathway and its activators in the management of COVID-19. As well, we tried to revise the mechanistic role of the Nrf2 pathway in COVID-19.

Comprehensive in silico analysis of the underutilized crop tef (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter) genome reveals drought tolerance signatures

BACKGROUND

Tef (Eragrostis tef) is a C4 plant known for its tiny, nutritious, and gluten-free grains. It contains higher levels of protein, vitamins, and essential minerals like calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) than common cereals. Tef is cultivated in diverse ecological zones under diverse climatic conditions. Studies have shown that tef has great diversity in withstanding environmental challenges such as drought. Drought is a major abiotic stress severely affecting crop productivity and becoming a bottleneck to global food security. Here, we used in silico-based functional genomic analysis to identify drought-responsive genes in tef and validated their expression using quantitative RT-PCR.

RESULTS

We identified about 729 drought-responsive genes so far reported in six crop plants, including rice, wheat, maize, barley, sorghum, pearl millet, and the model plant Arabidopsis, and reported 20 genes having high-level of GO terms related to drought, and significantly enriched in several biological and molecular function categories. These genes were found to play diverse roles, including water and fluid transport, resistance to high salt, cold, and drought stress, abscisic acid (ABA) signaling, de novo DNA methylation, and transcriptional regulation in tef and other crops. Our analysis revealed substantial differences in the conserved domains of some tef genes from well-studied rice orthologs. We further analyzed the expression of sixteen tef orthologs using quantitative RT-PCR in response to PEG-induced osmotic stress.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings showed differential regulation of some drought-responsive genes in shoots, roots, or both tissues. Hence, the genes identified in this study may be promising candidates for trait improvement in crops via transgenic or gene-editing technologies.

Evaluation of yield attributes and bioactive phytochemicals of twenty amaranth genotypes of Bengal floodplain

Twenty vegetable amaranth (VA) genotypes were evaluated to assess the variability, associations, path coefficient, and principal component analysis (PCA) of morpho-chemical traits. The genotypes exhibited adequate antioxidant colorants, phytochemicals, and antiradical capacity with significant variations across genotypes. Genetic parameters revealed selection criteria for the majority of the traits for improving amaranth foliage yield (FY). Based on correlation coefficient, stem weight, stem base diameter, root weight, plant height, and shoot weight for significant development of FY of VA. Observing significant genotypic correlation with high positive direct effects on FY, the path coefficient (PC) of root weight, stem base diameter, stem weight, and shoot weight could contribute to the noteworthy development of FY of VA. The genotypes AA5, AA6, AA8, AA10, AA11, AA19, and AA20 might be selected for high FY, antioxidant colorants, and antiradical phytochemicals to utilize as colorants and antiradical rich superior high yielding cultivars. The first PC accounted for 37.8% of the variances, which implies a larger proportion of variable information explained by PC1. The features that contributed more to PC1 were FY, SW, STW, RW, and PH, whereas Chl b, total Chl, and Chl a contributed to the second PC. This suggests that there are significant genetic differences between amaranths in terms of biochemical and agro-morphological characteristics. The findings of the current work support plant breeders to investigate the genetic potential of the amaranth germplasm, notably in biochemical parameters. High colorants enrich genotypes that can be selected for extracting natural colorants to use in food processing industries.

Valorisation of pineapple peel waste as natural surimi gel enhancer and its optimization in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) surimi gels

This investigation explored the preparation of surimi gel enhancer from pineapple peel waste, hugely generated by industries and spreading serious environment pollutions. The peel extracted with 100% ethanol had higher bioactive and antioxidant attributes, which was subsequently fortified in tilapia surimi at levels of 0.20%-1.20%, w/w to improve its physiochemical, textural, protein structural and sensorial properties. Our finding demonstrated that surimi gels enriched with 0.80% ethanolic pineapple peel extract (PAPE) exhibited significant (p<0.05) improvement in water holding capacity, breaking force, gel strength, and other textural properties and sensory attributes. Furthermore, the surimi gels fortified with 0.80% PAPE exhibited the elevated levels of hydrogen and hydrophobic interactions, while sulfhydryl and free amino acid contents demonstrated a contrasting trend. The FTIR spectra displayed that the incorporation of PAPE influenced the secondary structure of the protein, as evidenced by shifts in the α-helix to β-sheet peaks. In addition, 0.80% PAPE added gels displayed a compact, uniform, and organized microstructure, featuring small cavities. In summary, the fortification of tilapia surimi gels with 0.80% PAPE could improve gelling and other technological properties with higher sensory scores. This study offers an effective approach to utilize the pineapple peel as a gel enhancer additive for the development of functional surimi and surimi-based products enriched with bioactive compounds.

Proteome and phosphoproteome analysis of 2,4-epibrassinolide-mediated cold stress response in cucumber seedlings

The 2, 4-epibrassinolide (EBR) significantly increased plants cold tolerance. However, mechanisms of EBR in regulating cold tolerance in phosphoproteome and proteome levels have not been reported. The mechanism of EBR regulating cold response in cucumber was studied by multiple omics analysis. In this study, phosphoproteome analysis showed that cucumber responded to cold stress through multi-site serine phosphorylation, while EBR further upregulated single-site phosphorylation for most of cold-responsive phosphoproteins. Association analysis of the proteome and phosphoproteome revealed that EBR reprogrammed proteins in response to cold stress by negatively regulating protein phosphorylation and protein content, and phosphorylation negatively regulated protein content in cucumber. Further functional enrichment analysis of proteome and phosphoproteome showed that cucumber mainly upregulated phosphoproteins related to spliceosome, nucleotide binding and photosynthetic pathways in response to cold stress. However, different from the EBR regulation in omics level, hypergeometric analysis showed that EBR further upregulated 16 cold-up-responsive phosphoproteins participated photosynthetic and nucleotide binding pathways in response to cold stress, suggested their important function in cold tolerance. Analysis of cold-responsive transcription factors (TFs) by correlation between proteome and phosphoproteome showed that cucumber regulated eight class TFs may through protein phosphorylation under cold stress. Further combined with cold-related transcriptome found that cucumber phosphorylated eight class TFs, and mainly through targeting major hormone signal genes by bZIP TFs in response to cold stress, while EBR further increased these bZIP TFs (CsABI5.2 and CsABI5.5) phosphorylation level. In conclusion, the EBR mediated schematic of molecule response mechanisms in cucumber under cold stress was proposed.

Effect of bifenthrin application at different maturity stages on its dissipation and residues in kumquat (Citrus japonica) and dietary intake risk assessment

Bifenthrin is a pyrethroid pesticide widely used on kumquats, but the residues in the peel and pulp after bifenthrin application at different maturity stages of kumquats have not been evaluated. This study developed a simple and rapid high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the quantitative analysis of bifenthrin residues in whole fruit, kumquat peel, kumquat pulp, and soil. The results showed that regardless of whether bifenthrin was applied one or three times during the near-mature period, the half-lives of the fruit peel and fruit pulp were longer than those in the immature period. Kumquat fruit residues decreased with time at both maturity levels. The residues of bifenthrin in near-mature fruit exceeded the MRL in Guangxi and Fujian 14 days after the three applications of bifenthrin, suggesting that this issue should be focused on in kumquat production and supervision. However, for bifenthrin application in either the near-mature or the immature fruit period, the calculated risks for chronic dietary intake of kumquat were well below 100%. The data demonstrate that the chronic dietary intake risk of bifenthrin through kumquat consumption is low and within acceptable limits. These results provide a reference and risk assessment data for the safe and rational use of bifenthrin insecticides.

Melatonin-mediated development and abiotic stress tolerance in plants

Melatonin is a multifunctional molecule that has been widely discovered in most plants. An increasing number of studies have shown that melatonin plays essential roles in plant growth and stress tolerance. It has been extensively applied to alleviate the harmful effects of abiotic stresses. In view of its role in regulating aspects of plant growth and development, we ponder and summarize the scientific discoveries about seed germination, root development, flowering, fruit maturation, and senescence. Under abiotic and biotic stresses, melatonin brings together many pathways to increase access to treatments for the symptoms of plants and to counteract the negative effects. It has the capacity to tackle regulation of the redox, plant hormone networks, and endogenous melatonin. Furthermore, the expression levels of several genes and the contents of diverse secondary metabolites, such as polyphenols, terpenoids, and alkaloids, were significantly altered. In this review, we intend to examine the actions of melatonin in plants from a broader perspective, explore the range of its physiological functions, and analyze the relationship between melatonin and other metabolites and metabolic pathways.

FaGAPC2/FaPKc2.2 and FaPEPCK reveal differential citric acid metabolism regulation in late development of strawberry fruit

Citric acid is the primary organic acid that affects the taste of strawberry fruit. Glycolysis supplies key substrates for the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle). However, little is known about the regulatory mechanisms of glycolytic genes on citric acid metabolism in strawberry fruits. In this study, the citric acid content of strawberry fruit displayed a trend of rising and decreasing from the initial red stage to the full red stage and then dark red stage. Thus, a difference in citric acid metabolic regulation was suspected during strawberry fruit development. In addition, overexpression of either cytoplasm glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (FxaC_14g13400, namely FaGAPC2) or pyruvate kinase (FxaC_15g00080, namely FaPKc2.2) inhibited strawberry fruit ripening and the accumulation of citric acid, leading to a range of maturity stages from partial red to full red stage. The combined transcriptome and metabolome analysis revealed that overexpression of FaGAPC2 and FaPKc2.2 significantly suppressed the expression of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (FxaC_1g21491, namely FaPEPCK) but enhanced the content of glutamine and aspartic acid. Meanwhile, the activities of PEPCK and glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) were inhibited, but the activities of glutamine synthase (GS) were increased in FaGAPC2/FaPKc2.2-overexpressed fruit. Further, functional verification demonstrated that overexpression of FaPEPCK can promote strawberry fruit ripening, resulting in a range of maturity stage from full red to dark red stage, while the citric acid synthase (CS) activities and citric acid content were significantly decreased. Overall, this study revealed that FaGAPC2/FaPKc2.2 and FaPEPCK perform an important role in reducing citric acid content in strawberry fruit, and FaGAPC2/FaPKc2.2 mainly by promoting the GS degradation pathway and FaPEPCK mainly by inhibiting the CS synthesis pathway.

Metabolic profiling and transcriptome analysis provide insights into the accumulation of flavonoids in chayote fruit during storage

Chayote (Sechium edulel) fruits are rich in flavonoids, folate, and low-calorie food. However, studies about the flavonoids and the corresponding regulatory mechanism of flavonoid synthesis in chayote fruits was still unclear. In present study, an integrated transcriptome and metabolite analysis of chayote fruits at three different storage stages were conducted to explore the flavonoid compositions and gene expression associated with flavonoid synthesis. Through the UPLC-MS/MS analysis, a total of 57 flavonoid compounds were detected. Of these, 42 flavonoid glycosides were significantly differential accumulation in chayote fruits at three different storage stages. Many genes associated with flavonoid synthesis were differentially expressed in chayote fruits at three different storage stages through RNA-seq analysis, including structural genes and some TFs. There was a high correlation between RNA-seq analysis and metabolite profiling, and the expression level of candidate genes in the flavonoid synthesis pathway were consistent with the dynamic changes of flavonoids. In addition, one R2R3-MYB transcription factor, FSG0057100, was defined as the critical regulatory gene of flavonoid synthesis. Furthermore, exogenous application of phenylalanine increased the total content of flavonoids and promoted some flavonoid biosynthesis-related gene expression in chayote fruits. The above results not only make us better understand the molecular mechanism of flavonoid synthesis in chayote fruits, but also contribute to the promotion and application of chayote products.

Rapid vertical flow technique for the highly sensitive detection of Brucella antibodies with Prussian blue nanoparticle labeling and nanozyme-catalyzed signal amplification

Brucellosis is a chronic infectious disease caused by Brucella, which is characterized by inflammation of reproductive organs and fetal membranes, abortion, infertility, and local inflammatory lesions of various tissues. Due to the widespread prevalence and spread of brucellosis, it has not only caused huge losses to animal husbandry, but also brought serious impacts on human health and safety. Therefore, rapid and accurate diagnosis is of great significance for the effective control of brucellosis. Therefore, we have developed a rapid vertical flow technique (RVFT) using Prussian blue nanoparticles (PBNPs) as a marker material for the detection of brucellosis antibodies. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was purified and used to detect brucellosis antibodies to improve the sensitivity of this technique. To enhance the sensitivity of serum antibody detection, a single multifunctional compound buffer was created using whole blood as a biological sample while retaining the advantages of typical lateral flow immunoassays. After signal amplification, standard Brucella-positive serum (containing Brucella antibody at 4000 IU mL^-1) could be detected in this system even at a dilution factor of 1 × 10^-2. The detection limit was 40 IU mL^-1, which is ten times that before signal amplification. This RVFT displayed good specificity and no cross-reactivity. This RVFT effectively avoided the false negative phenomenon of lateral flow immunoassays, was easy to operate, had a short reaction time, has good repeatability, and could elicit results that were visible to the naked eye for 2 ~ 3 min without any equipment. Since this method is very important for controlling the prevalence of brucellosis, it holds great promise for application in primary medical units and veterinary brucellosis detection.

Folate (vitamin B9) content analysis in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Vitamin B9, particularly folic acid, is an essential molecule for human health. Wheat flour is one of the major sources of calorie intake by humans. The selection of folate-rich genotypes in wheat breeding can enhance the natural folate value in the daily diet. This study used a precise, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay to analyze folate content in a 262-accession Chinese wheat mini-core collection (MCC) grown under three environments. Four folate derivatives in grains including tetrahydrofolate (THF), 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-CH₃-THF), 5-formyltetrahydrofolate (5-CHO-THF), and 5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate (5,10-CH⁺THF) were considered. An association analysis of water regimes, accession types, released years, geographical origin, and agronomic traits with folate content was conducted for the first time. There was a large amount of variation in folate content in the analyzed accessions, with genotype identified as the main influencing factor. Total folate content was significantly correlated with the content of the four MCC derivatives under the three environments. 5-CH₃-THF and 5-CHO-THF were the most abundant among the four folate derivatives and were positively correlated with high folate content. The 12 accessions with the highest folate content showed an average of more than 80 μg/100 g. The analysis demonstrated that this Chinese wheat had not undergone extensive selection for folate content during breeding, which is unrelated to the geographical origin, accession types, winter/spring types, and grain colors of wheat. The content of THF, 5-CH₃-THF, and 5,10-CH⁺THF was significantly negatively correlated with grain width, grain thickness, and thousand kernel weight. A relatively weak negative relationship manifested between folate contents and flowering date, whereas no significant correlation with tiller number, grain number per spike, maturity date, height, and spike length was detected. The investigation benefits wheat breeders for folate enhancement.

Reducing the potential allergenicity of amandin through binding to (-)-epigallocatechin gallate

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Amandin (AMP) binding to EGCG changed protein structure.

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AMP bound to EGCG primarily through glutamate and cysteine residues.

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Alkaline and free radical methods dented AMP allergenic, but the principles differed.

Potential allergenicity of amandin was reduced by binding amandin with (−)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) via alkaline, free radical, ultrasound-assisted alkaline, and ultrasound-assisted free radical methods. These results of total phenol content, free sulfhydryl group, free amino group, surface hydrophobicity, and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) indicated that amandin might be covalently bound to EGCG through reactive groups such as sulfhydryl and amino groups, or non-covalently through hydrophobic interactions. Fourier transformed infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy revealed structural changes of amandin-EGCG conjugate, which also caused significant reduction in potential allergenicity of amandin. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) found that amandin bound to EGCG mainly through cysteine and glutamate residues, and linear epitope for amandin was reduced. This provided a new method and theoretical basis of hypoallergenic almond food.

Biotransformation technology and high-value application of rapeseed meal: a review

Rapeseed meal (RSM) is an agro-industrial residue of increased functional biological value that contains high-quality proteins for animal feed. Due to the presence of antinutritional factors and immature development technology, RSM is currently used as a limited feed additive and in other relatively low-value applications. With increasing emphasis on green and sustainable industrial development and the added value of agro-industrial residues, considerable attention has been directed to the removal of antinutritional factors from RSM using high-efficiency, environment-friendly, and cost-effective biotechnology. Similarly, the high-value biotransformations of RSM have been the focus of research programmes to improve utilization rate. In this review, we introduce the sources, the nutrient and antinutrient content of RSM, and emphasize improvements on RSM feed quality using biological methods and its biotransformation applications.

Organic acid metabolism in Chinese dwarf cherry [Cerasus humilis (Bge.) Sok.] is controlled by a complex gene regulatory network

The acidity of Chinese dwarf cherry [Cerasus humilis (Bge.) Sok.] fruits is a key factor affecting the sensory quality of fruits, and it undergoes great changes during development. The molecular mechanisms of these changes are still unclear. In this study, fruits of high-acid 'Nongda4' and low-acid 'DS-1' varieties of Chinese dwarf cherry were used to determine the acid content at different developmental stages. We used transcriptome profiles to identify key genes related to organic acid metabolism and construct their co-expression networks, and we studied the expression patterns of key genes in 36 Chinese dwarf cherry accessions. The titratable acid content of both 'DS-1' and 'Nongda4' fruits first increased and then decreased during fruit development; however, the titratable acid content of 'DS-1' fruits changed to a minor extent. The organic acid content of 'Nongda4' was significantly higher than that of 'DS-1'. The organic acids in mature fruits were mainly malic acid and citric acid. Analysis of the differentially expressed genes related to organic acid metabolism revealed six key genes, including two MDH genes, one tDT gene, one ME gene, one PEPCK gene, and one VHA gene. Weighted gene co-expression network association analysis revealed four modules that were significantly correlated with organic acid content, and 10 key genes with high connectivity among these four modules were screened, including two PK genes, two MDH genes, two ME genes, one PEPCK gene, one VHA gene, one PEPC gene, and one tDT gene. According to the expression patterns of genes in different Chinese dwarf cherry accessions, seven genes were confirmed to represent key genes related to the regulation of organic acids during Chinese dwarf cherry fruit development. These results provide a foundation for further studies on the molecular mechanism of organic acid accumulation in Chinese dwarf cherry fruit.

Genome-wide identification and functional exploration of the legume lectin genes in Brassica napus and their roles in Sclerotinia disease resistance

As one of the largest classes of lectins, legume lectins have a variety of desirable features such as antibacterial and insecticidal activities as well as anti-abiotic stress ability. The Sclerotinia disease (SD) caused by the soil-borne fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a devastating disease affecting most oil crops such as Brassica napus. Here, we identified 130 legume lectin (LegLu) genes in B. napus, which could be phylogenetically classified into seven clusters. The BnLegLu gene family has been significantly expanded since the whole-genome duplication (WGD) or segmental duplication. Gene structure and conserved motif analysis suggested that the BnLegLu genes were well conserved in each cluster. Moreover, relative to those genes only containing the legume lectin domain in cluster VI-VII, the genes in cluster I-V harbored a transmembrane domain and a kinase domain linked to the legume lectin domain in the C terminus. The expression of most BnLegLu genes was relatively low in various tissues. Thirty-five BnLegLu genes were responsive to abiotic stress, and 40 BnLegLu genes were strongly induced by S. sclerotiorum, with a most significant up-regulation of 715-fold, indicating their functional roles in SD resistance. Four BnLegLu genes were located in the candidate regions of genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) results which resulted from a worldwide rapeseed population consisting of 324 accessions associated with SD. Among them, the positive role of BnLegLus-16 in SD resistance was validated by transient expression in tobacco leaves. This study provides important information on BnLegLu genes, particularly about their roles in SD resistance, which may help targeted functional research and genetic improvement in the breeding of B. napus.

Effects of packaging and ripeness on plantain flour characteristics during storage

The increasing implication of plantain flour in various food formulations calls for the need to evaluate the effects of ripening stage, packaging materials, and storage duration on its proximal composition and functional properties. For this study, plantain flours were produced from the cultivar Alloga at unripe and semiripe stage 3. They were stored both in transparent polyethylene bags and in an opaque aluminum foil. Physicochemical analyses and functional characterization of the plantain flour were performed on samples taken prior to storage and on monthly basis for 6 months during storage. Ash and carbohydrate contents decreased while the yellowness and redness increased with ripening. Pasting viscosity drastically decreased with ripening. During storage, significant differences in color and among most functional characteristics were observed as a consequence of both storage duration and packaging materials. Based on this research, flour from semiripe plantain could be recommended for use in formulations requiring low viscosity. Besides, it is suggested to store plantain flours in opaque containers to reduce the variability in its properties, thus maintaining its original quality.

Blood-Enriching Effects and Immune-Regulation Mechanism of Steam-Processed Polygonatum Sibiricum Polysaccharide in Blood Deficiency Syndrome Mice

Polygonatum sibiricum Red. has been used as a medicinal herb and nutritional food in traditional Chinese medicine for a long time. It must be processed prior to clinical use for safe and effective applications. However, the present studies mainly focused on crude Polygonatum sibiricum (PS). This study aimed to investigate the chemical properties, blood-enriching effects and mechanism of polysaccharide from the steam-processed Polygonatum sibiricum (SPS), which is a common form of PS in clinical applications. Instrumentation analyses and chemistry analyses revealed the structure of SPS polysaccharide (SPSP). A mice model of blood deficiency syndrome (BDS) was induced by acetylphenylhydrazine (APH) and cyclophosphamide (CTX). Blood routine test, spleen histopathological changes, serum cytokines, etc. were measured. The spleen transcriptome changes of BDS mice were detected by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). The results showed that SPSP consists predominantly of Gal and GalA together with fewer amounts of Man, Glc, Ara, Rha and GlcN. It could significantly increase peripheral blood cells, restore the splenic trabecular structure, and reverse hematopoietic cytokines to normal levels. RNA-seq analysis showed that 122 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained after SPSP treatment. GO and KEGG analysis revealed that SPSP-regulated DEGs were mainly involved in hematopoiesis, immune regulation signaling pathways. The reliability of transcriptome profiling was validated by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot, and the results indicated that the potential molecular mechanisms of the blood-enriching effects of SPSP might be associated with the regulating of JAK1-STAT1 pathway, and elevated the hematopoietic cytokines (EPO, G-CSF, TNF-α and IL-6). This work provides important information on the potential mechanisms of SPSP against BDS.

Immune Effect of Active Components of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancers are heterogeneous, poorly prognostic, and metastatic malignancies that result in a high risk of death for patients. Targeted therapy for triple-negative breast cancer has been extremely challenging due to the lack of expression of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. Clinical treatment regimens for triple-negative breast cancer are often based on paclitaxel and platinum drugs, but drug resistance and side effects from the drugs frequently lead to treatment failure, thus requiring the development of new therapeutic platforms. In recent years, research on traditional Chinese medicine in modulating the immune function of the body has shown that it has the potential to be an effective treatment option against triple-negative breast cancer. Active components of herbal medicines such as alkaloids, flavonoids, polyphenols, saponins, and polysaccharides have been shown to inhibit cancer cell proliferation and metastasis by activating inflammatory immune responses and can modulate tumor-related signaling pathways to further inhibit the invasion of triple-negative breast cancer. This paper reviews the immunomodulatory mechanisms of different herbal active ingredients against triple-negative breast cancer and provides an outlook on the challenges and directions of development for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer with herbal active ingredients.

LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS analysis of pesticide residues in Ecuadorian and Filipino Cavendish bananas imported into Saudi Arabia

The occurrence of pesticide residues in bananas imported from Ecuador and the Philippines into Saudi Arabia was investigated. Eighty-seven banana samples were purchased from various supermarkets around the country. The conventional QuEChERS method was used to extract 294 pesticides in whole bananas and the analysis was carried out using LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS. In total, nine pesticides were detected of which azoxystrobin, carbendazim, chlorpyrifos, imazalil, and thiabendazole were the most frequently found in bananas from both countries. The levels of these pesticides were complaint according to the Saudi Food & Drug Authority's (SFDA) maximum residue levels (MRLs), therefore they cannot be considered a public health problem. Detectable residues of these agrochemicals show that they are used extensively in banana cultivation. The Ecuadorian Agency for Agricultural Quality Assurance (Agrocalidad) and the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) prohibit the use of carbendazim in agriculture, while the Filipino Fertiliser and Pesticide Authority (FPA) allows its use. A legislative comparison of pesticide approval status revealed a lack of consensus between banana exporting and importing countries that could affect food safety and trade.

Emulsion, hydrogel and emulgel systems and novel applications in cannabinoid delivery: a review

Emulsions, hydrogels and emulgels have attracted a high interest as tools for the delivery of poorly soluble hydrophobic nutraceuticals by enhancing their stability and bioavailability. This review provides an overview of these delivery systems, their unique qualities and their interactions with the human gastrointestinal system. The modulation of the various delivery systems to enhance the bioavailability and modify the release profile of bioactive encapsulates is highlighted. The application of the delivery systems in the delivery of cannabinoids is also discussed. With the recent increase of cannabis legalization across North America, there is much interest in developing cannabis edibles which can provide a consistent dose of cannabinoids per portion with a rapid time of onset. Indeed, the long time of onset of psychoactive effects and varied metabolic responses to these products result in a high risk of severe intoxication due to overconsumption. Sophisticated emulsion or hydrogel-based delivery systems are one potential tool to achieve this goal. To date, there is a lack of evidence linking specific classes of delivery systems with their pharmacokinetic profiles in humans. More research is needed to directly compare different classes of delivery systems for the gastrointestinal delivery of cannabinoids.

Selection and evaluation of reference genes for qRT-PCR of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi under different experimental conditions

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi is a famous medicinal plant with its dried roots having been used as a traditional Chinese medicinal for more than 2000 years. Although its genome sequence has previously been published and molecular biology methods have been used to study this species, no suitable internal reference genes have been investigated for standardization of gene expression via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Here, the stabilities of 10 candidate reference genes, ACT11, ACT7, α-TUB, β-TUB, GAPDH, UBC, RPL, SAM, HSP70, and PP2A, were analyzed by four different procedures of GeNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and RefFinder. Their expression stabilities were evaluated under various conditions, including different tissue types (root, stem, leaf, and flower), hormone stimuli treatments (methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, and abscisic acid), and abiotic stresses (heavy metal, salt, drought, cold, and wounding). The results indicated that β-TUB was the most stable gene for all tested samples, while ACT11 was the most unstable. The most stable reference gene was not consistent under different conditions. β-TUB exhibited the highest stability for different tissue types and abiotic stresses, while for hormone stimuli treatments, ACT7 showed the highest stability. To confirm the applicability of suitable reference genes, we selected to SbF6H and SbF8H as target genes to analyze their expression levels in different tissues. This study helps to the accurate quantification of the relative expression levels of interest genes in S. baicalensis via qRT-PCR analysis.

Grape Berry Secondary Metabolites and Their Modulation by Abiotic Factors in a Climate Change Scenario-A Review

Temperature, water, solar radiation, and atmospheric CO₂ concentration are the main abiotic factors that are changing in the course of global warming. These abiotic factors govern the synthesis and degradation of primary (sugars, amino acids, organic acids, etc.) and secondary (phenolic and volatile flavor compounds and their precursors) metabolites directly, via the regulation of their biosynthetic pathways, or indirectly, via their effects on vine physiology and phenology. Several hundred secondary metabolites have been identified in the grape berry. Their biosynthesis and degradation have been characterized and have been shown to occur during different developmental stages of the berry. The understanding of how the different abiotic factors modulate secondary metabolism and thus berry quality is of crucial importance for breeders and growers to develop plant material and viticultural practices to maintain high-quality fruit and wine production in the context of global warming. Here, we review the main secondary metabolites of the grape berry, their biosynthesis, and how their accumulation and degradation is influenced by abiotic factors. The first part of the review provides an update on structure, biosynthesis, and degradation of phenolic compounds (flavonoids and non-flavonoids) and major aroma compounds (terpenes, thiols, methoxypyrazines, and C13 norisoprenoids). The second part gives an update on the influence of abiotic factors, such as water availability, temperature, radiation, and CO₂ concentration, on berry secondary metabolism. At the end of the paper, we raise some critical questions regarding intracluster berry heterogeneity and dilution effects and how the sampling strategy can impact the outcome of studies on the grapevine berry response to abiotic factors.

Antimicrobial Activity Against Phytopathogens and Inhibitory Activity on Solanine in Potatoes of the Endophytic Bacteria Isolated From Potato Tubers

As an important global crop, the potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) contains the endotoxin solanine that leads to human poisoning and major economic losses. Poisoning symptoms and even acute poisoning may occur when the content of solanine in potatoes exceeds 200 mg/kg. In addition, potatoes are susceptible to some pathogenic bacteria, including Streptomyces scabies and Erwinia carotovora subsp. atroseptica (Van Hall) dye, which can cause potato scab and potato blackleg disease, respectively. In this study, 37 culturable endophytic bacteria strains were obtained from potato tubers based on the culture-dependent method. Results indicated that nine strains showed antimicrobial activity against at least one pathogen by antimicrobial activity screening and 23 strains showed inhibitory activity on solanine in potato tubers. Among them, strain P-NA2-14 (Bacillus megaterium NBRC 15308T, 99.31%) showed not only better antimicrobial activity against both the two indicator pathogens, but also the best inhibitory activity on solanine, which was proved to be a potential biocontrol bacterium. Meanwhile, the relationship between the distribution of the endophytic bacterial community and the content of solanine in potato tubers was studied by Illumina-based analysis, indicating that the distribution of the endophytic bacterial community was obviously influenced by the content of solanine. The results showed a new insight into the relationship between plant secondary metabolites and endophytic bacteria in potato tubers and provided potential new technical support for the biological control of potato storage.

Association between coffee consumption and total dietary caffeine intake with cognitive functioning: cross-sectional assessment in an elderly Mediterranean population

PURPOSE

Coffee is rich in compounds such as polyphenols, caffeine, diterpenes, melanoidins and trigonelline, which can stimulate brain activity. Therefore, the possible association of coffee consumption with cognition is of considerable research interest. In this paper, we assess the association of coffee consumption and total dietary caffeine intake with the risk of poor cognitive functioning in a population of elderly overweight/obese adults with metabolic syndrome (MetS).

METHODS

PREDIMED-plus study participants who completed the Mini-Mental State Examination test (MMSE) (n = 6427; mean age = 65 ± 5 years) or a battery of neuropsychological tests were included in this cross-sectional analysis. Coffee consumption and total dietary caffeine intake were assessed at baseline using a food frequency questionnaire. Logistic regression models were fitted to evaluate the association between total, caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee consumption or total dietary caffeine intake and cognitive impairment.

RESULTS

Total coffee consumers and caffeinated coffee consumers had better cognitive functioning than non-consumers when measured by the MMSE and after adjusting for potential confounders (OR 0.63; 95% CI 0.44-0.90 and OR 0.56; 95% CI 0.38-0.83, respectively). Results were similar when cognitive performance was measured using the Clock Drawing Test (CDT) and Trail Making Test B (TMT-B). These associations were not observed for decaffeinated coffee consumption. Participants in the highest tertile of total dietary caffeine intake had lower odds of poor cognitive functioning than those in the reference tertile when screened by the MMSE (OR 0.64; 95% CI 0.47-0.87) or other neurophysiological tests evaluating a variety of cognitive domains (i.e., CDT and TMT-A).

CONCLUSIONS

Coffee consumption and total dietary caffeine intake were associated with better cognitive functioning as measured by various neuropsychological tests in a Mediterranean cohort of elderly individuals with MetS.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ISRCTN89898870. Registration date: July 24, 2014.

Pipeline for Targeted Meta-Proteomic Analyses to Assess the Diversity of Cattle Rumen Microbial Urease

In the rumen of cattle, urease produced by ureolytic bacteria catalyzes the hydrolysis of urea to ammonia, which plays an important role in nitrogen metabolism and animal production. A high diversity of rumen bacterial urease genes was observed in our previous study; however, information on urease protein diversity could not be determined due to technical limitations. Here, we developed a targeted meta-proteomic pipeline to analyze rumen urease protein diversity. Protein extraction (duration of cryomilling in liquid nitrogen), protein digestion state (in-solution or in-gel), and the digestion enzyme used (trypsin or Glu-C/Lys-C) were optimized, and the digested peptides were analyzed by LC-MS/MS. Four minutes was the best duration for cryomilling and yielded the highest urease activity. Trypsin digestion of in-gel proteins outperformed other digestion methods and yielded the greatest number of identifications and superior peptide performance in regards to the digestion efficiency and high-score peptide. The annotation of peptides by PEAKS software revealed diversity among urease proteins, with the predominant proteins being from Prochlorococcus, Helicobacter, and uncultured bacteria. In conclusion, trypsin digestion of in-gel proteins was the optimal method for the meta-proteomic pipeline analyzing rumen microbial ureases. This pipeline provides a guide for targeted meta-proteomic analyses in other ecosystems.

Extraction methods of butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea) flower and biological activities of its phytochemicals

Clitoria ternatea or commonly known as 'Butterfly pea' has been used traditionally in Ayurvedic medicine in which various parts of the plants are used to treat health issues such as indigestion, constipation, arthritis, skin diseases, liver and intestinal problems. The flowers of C. ternatea are used worldwide as ornamental flowers and traditionally used as a food colorant. This paper reviews the recent advances in the extraction and biological activities of phytochemicals from C. ternatea flowers. The application of maceration or ultrasound assisted extraction greatly increased the yield (16-247% of increase) of phytochemicals from C. ternatea flowers. Various phytochemicals such as kaempferol, quercetin and myricetin glycosides as well as anthocyanins have been isolated from C. ternatea flowers. Clitoria ternatea flower extracts were found to possess antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic and antidiabetic activities which are beneficial to human health. Clitoria ternatea flower is a promising candidate for functional food applications owing to its wide range of pharmacotherapeutic properties as well as its safety and effectiveness.

Genetic Analysis of Agronomic Traits and Grain Iron and Zinc Concentrations in a Doubled Haploid Population of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The development of micronutrient dense rice varieties with good agronomic traits is one of the sustainable and cost-effective approaches for reducing malnutrition. Identification of QTLs for high grain Fe and Zn, yield and yield components helps in precise and faster development of high Fe and Zn rice. We carried out a three-season evaluation using IR05F102 x IR69428 derived doubled-haploid population at IRRI. Inclusive composite interval mapping was carried out using SNP markers and Best Linear Unbiased Estimates of the phenotypic traits. A total of 23 QTLs were identified for eight agronomic traits and grain Fe and Zn concentration that explained 7.2 to 22.0% PV. A QTL by environment interaction analysis confirmed the stability of nine QTLs, including two QTLs for Zn on chromosomes 5 and 12. One epistatic interaction for plant height was significant with 28.4% PVE. Moreover, five QTLs were identified for Fe and Zn that harbor several candidate genes, e.g. OsZIP6 on QTL qZn_5.1. A number of QTLs were associated with a combination of greater yield and increased grain Zn levels. These results are useful for development of new rice varieties with good agronomic traits and high grain Zn using MAS, and identification of genetic resources with the novel QTLs for grain Zn.

Relationship Between Performance of Carob Moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and Phytochemical Metabolites in Various Pomegranate Cultivars

The carob moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is the main pest of pomegranate, Punica granatum L., in Iran and many parts of the world. In this study, the effects of 11 commercial cultivars of pomegranate (Aban-Mahi, Esfahani-Daneghermez, Gabri, Gorche-Tafti, Malase-Danesyah, Malase-Yazdi, Shahvare-Daneghermez, Shahvare-Danesefid, Tabolarze-Mehrmahi, Tafti, and Toghe-Gardan) were evaluated on life history variables, nutritional performance, and energy reserves of E. ceratoniae under the following laboratory conditions: 30 ± 1°C, 60 ± 5% RH, and a photoperiod of 14:10 (L:D) hours. In addition, biochemical characteristics of the tested cultivars were assessed in order to understand any possible correlation between important demographic parameters and nutritional properties with biochemical features of pomegranate juice. Our research showed that various pomegranate cultivars have significant effects on life history, demographical parameters, nutritional indices, and energy reserves of E. ceratoniae. The shortest development time was observed on Shahvare-Danesefid cultivar and the longest was on Esfahani-Daneghermez and Malase-Danesyah cultivars. The highest intrinsic rate of increase (r_m) was observed on Shahvare-Danesefid and the lowest was on Esfahani-Daneghermez. Six major anthocyanin compounds were detected in juice of various pomegranate cultivars. Significant positive or negative correlations were observed between life history variables and nutritional characteristics with biochemical traits of pomegranate cultivars. The results indicated that Shahvare-Danesefid was a relatively susceptible pomegranate cultivar and Esfahani-Daneghermez was the least appropriate (most resistant) cultivar for feeding of E. ceratoniae, which could be useful in the development of integrated pest management strategies for this pest.

Phenomics and genomics of finger millet: current status and future prospects

Diverse gene pool, advanced plant phenomics and genomics methods enhanced genetic gain and understanding of important agronomic, adaptation and nutritional traits in finger millet. Finger millet (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn) is an important minor millet for food and nutritional security in semi-arid regions of the world. The crop has wide adaptability and can be grown right from high hills in Himalayan region to coastal plains. It provides food grain as well as palatable straw for cattle, and is fairly climate resilient. The crop has large gene pool with distinct features of both Indian and African germplasm types. Interspecific hybridization between Indian and African germplasm has resulted in greater yield enhancement and disease resistance. The crop has shown numerous advantages over major cereals in terms of stress adaptation, nutritional quality and health benefits. It has indispensable repository of novel genes for the benefits of mankind. Although rapid strides have been made in allele mining in model crops and major cereals, the progress in finger millet genomics is lacking. Comparative genomics have paved the way for the marker-assisted selection, where resistance gene homologues of rice for blast and sequence variants for nutritional traits from other cereals have been invariably used. Transcriptomics studies have provided preliminary understanding of the nutritional variation, drought and salinity tolerance. However, the genetics of many important traits in finger millet is poorly understood and need systematic efforts from biologists across disciplines. Recently, deciphered finger millet genome will enable identification of candidate genes for agronomically and nutritionally important traits. Further, improvement in genome assembly and application of genomic selection as well as genome editing in near future will provide plethora of information and opportunity to understand the genetics of complex traits.

Network analysis of noncoding RNAs in pepper provides insights into fruit ripening control

Pepper is an important vegetable worldwide and is a model plant for nonclimacteric fleshy fruit ripening. Drastic visual changes and internal biochemical alterations are involved in fruit coloration, flavor, texture, aroma, and palatability to animals during the pepper fruit ripening process. To explore the regulation of bell pepper fruit ripening by noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), we examined their expression profiles; 43 microRNAs (miRNAs), 125 circular RNAs (circRNAs), 366 long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and 3266 messenger RNAs (mRNAs) were differentially expressed (DE) in mature green and red ripe fruit. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses revealed that the targets of the DE ncRNAs and DE mRNAs included several kinds of transcription factors (TFs) (ERF, bHLH, WRKY, MYB, NAC, bZIP, and ARF), enzymes involved in cell wall metabolism (beta-galactosidase, beta-glucosidase, beta-amylase, chitinase, pectate lyase (PL), pectinesterase (PE) and polygalacturonase (PG)), enzymes involved in fruit color accumulation (bifunctional 15-cis-phytoene synthase, 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase, beta-carotene hydroxylase and carotene epsilon-monooxygenase), enzymes associated with fruit flavor and aroma (glutamate-1-semialdehyde 2,1-aminomutase, anthocyanin 5-aromatic acyltransferase, and eugenol synthase 1) and enzymes involved in the production of ethylene (ET) (ACO1/ACO4) as well as other plant hormones such as abscisic acid (ABA), auxin (IAA), and gibberellic acid (GA). Based on accumulation profiles, a network of ncRNAs and mRNAs associated with bell pepper fruit ripening was developed that provides a foundation for further developing a more refined understanding of the molecular biology of fruit ripening.

Antibacterial activity and mechanism of lactobionic acid against Staphylococcus aureus

Lactobionic acid (LBA) is a newly identified natural polyhydroxy acid that is widely used in the food industry. In this study, the antibacterial effects and underlying mechanism of action of LBA against Staphylococcus aureus were investigated. LBA exhibited significant antibacterial activity against S. aureus with a determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 15 mg/mL and 50 mg/mL, respectively. The Growth curves indicated that LBA directly inhibited the growth of S. aureus. Moreover, LBA induced the leakage of alkaline phosphatase and nucleotides in the culture medium, indicating damage to the integrity of the S. aureus cell wall membrane, which was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy observations. The relative electric conductivity measurements indicated that LBA changed the cell membrane permeability. The preservation effect of LBA was evaluated by quantifying the total number of colonies, total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Overall, these results revealed that LBA exerts its antibacterial activity by breaking down the structure of the bacterial cell wall and membrane, thereby releasing the cellular contents as well as inhibiting protein synthesis, which ultimately lead to cell death. The total number of colonies, the TVB-N value, and the TBARS of cold fresh meat treated with preservatives were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05). With these antibacterial characteristics, LBA has potential to be used as a safe food additive in the food industry.

Role of intestinal microecology in the regulation of energy metabolism by dietary polyphenols and their metabolites

Background

Polyphenols are a class of plant secondary metabolites with a variety of physiological functions. Polyphenols and their intestinal metabolites could greatly affect host energy metabolism via multiple mechanisms.

Objective

The objective of this review was to elaborate the role of intestinal microecology in the regulatory effects of dietary polyphenols and their metabolites on energy metabolism.

Methods

In this review, we illustrated the potential mechanisms of energy metabolism regulated by the crosstalk between polyphenols and intestinal microecology including intestinal microbiota, intestinal epithelial cells, and mucosal immune system.

Results

Polyphenols can selectively regulate the growth of susceptible microorganisms (eg. reducing the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroides, promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria and inhibiting pathogenic bacteria) as well as alter bacterial enzyme activity. Moreover, polyphenols can influence the absorption and secretion of intestinal epithelial cells, and alter the intestinal mucosal immune system.

Conclusion

The intestinal microecology play a crucial role for the regulation of energy metabolism by dietary polyphenols.

Sampling for DUS Test of Flower Colors of Ranunculus asiaticus L. in View of Spatial and Temporal Changes of Flower Colorations, Anthocyanin Contents, and Gene Expression Levels

Sampling for DUS test of flower colors should be fixed at the stages and sites that petals are fully colored, and besides, flower colorations are uniform among individuals and stable for a period of time to allow testers to get consistent results. It remains a problem since spatial and temporal flower colorations are reported a lot but their change traits are little discussed. In this study, expression state, uniformity and stability of color phenotypes, anthocyanin contents, and gene expression levels were taken into account based on measurements at 12 development stages and three layers (inner, middle, and outer petals) of two varieties of Ranunculus asiaticus L. to get their best sampling. Our results showed that, outer petals of L9–L10 (stage 9–stage 10 of variety ‘Jiaoyan zhuanhong’) and C5–C6 (stage 5–stage 6 of variety ‘Jiaoyan yanghong’) were the best sampling, respectively. For DUS test, it is suggested to track flower colorations continuously to get the best sampling as well as representative colors since different cultivars had different change traits, and moreover, full expression of color phenotypes came later and lasted for a shorter duration than those of anthocyanin contents and gene expressions. Our innovation exists in following two points. Firstly, a model of change dynamic was introduced to illustrate the change traits of flower colorations, anthocyanin contents, and gene expressions. Secondly, genes used for expression analysis were screened on account of tentative anthocyanins, which were identified based on comparison between liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) results and molecular mass and mass fragment pattern (M²) of each putative anthocyanin and their fragments deduced in our previous study. Gene screening in this regard may also be interest for other non-model plant genera with little molecular background.

Screening for Lactobacillus plantarum Strains That Possess Organophosphorus Pesticide-Degrading Activity and Metabolomic Analysis of Phorate Degradation

This work performed a large scale assessment for organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) degradation activity of 121 Lactobacillus (L.) plantarum strains. Six L. plantarum strains (P9, IMAU80110, IMAU40100, IMAU10585, IMAU10209, and IMAU80070) were found to possess high capacity of degrading three commonly used OPPs, namely dimethoate, phorate, and omethoate; and they were selected for more detailed characterization. Moreover, the three OPPs were mainly detected in the culture supernatants but not in the cell extracts, further confirming that the OPPs were degraded rather than absorbed by the cells. Among the six selected strains, P9 was most tolerant to gastrointestinal juices and bile. We thus used ultra-high performance liquid chromatography electron spray ionization coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/ESI-Q-TOF/MS) to generate the metabolomic profiles of the strain P9 growing in MRS medium with and without containing phorate. By using orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis, we identified some potential phorate-derived degradative products. This work has identified novel lactic acid bacteria resources for application in pesticide degradation. Our results also shed light on the phorate degradation mechanism by L. plantarum P9.

Electrochemical Biosensor for Nitrite Based on Polyacrylic-Graphene Composite Film with Covalently Immobilized Hemoglobin

A new biosensor for the analysis of nitrite in food was developed based on hemoglobin (Hb) covalently immobilized on the succinimide functionalized poly(n-butyl acrylate)-graphene [poly(nBA)-rGO] composite film deposited on a carbon-paste screen-printed electrode (SPE). The immobilized Hb on the poly(nBA)-rGO conducting matrix exhibited electrocatalytic ability for the reduction of nitrite with significant enhancement in the reduction peak at −0.6 V versus Ag/AgCl reference electrode. Thus, direct determination of nitrite can be achieved by monitoring the cathodic peak current signal of the proposed polyacrylic-graphene hybrid film-based voltammetric nitrite biosensor. The nitrite biosensor exhibited a reproducible dynamic linear response range from 0.05–5 mg L⁻¹ nitrite and a detection limit of 0.03 mg L⁻¹. No significant interference was observed by potential interfering ions such as Ca²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, NH₄⁺, Mg²⁺, and NO₃⁻ ions. Analysis of nitrite in both raw and processed edible bird’s nest (EBN) samples demonstrated recovery of close to 100%. The covalent immobilization of Hb on poly(nBA)-rGO composite film has improved the performance of the electrochemical nitrite biosensor in terms of broader detection range, lower detection limit, and prolonged biosensor stability.

Characterization of Sugar Contents and Sucrose Metabolizing Enzymes in Developing Leaves of Hevea brasiliensis

Sucrose-metabolizing enzymes in plant leaves have hitherto been investigated mainly in temperate plants, and rarely conducted in tandem with gene expression and sugar analysis. Here, we investigated the sugar content, gene expression, and the activity of sucrose-metabolizing enzymes in the leaves of Hevea brasiliensis, a tropical tree widely cultivated for natural rubber. Sucrose, fructose and glucose were the major sugars detected in Hevea leaves at four developmental stages (I to IV), with starch and quebrachitol as minor saccharides. Fructose and glucose contents increased until stage III, but decreased strongly at stage IV (mature leaves). On the other hand, sucrose increased continuously throughout leaf development. Activities of all sucrose-cleaving enzymes decreased markedly at maturation, consistent with transcript decline for most of their encoding genes. Activity of sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) was low in spite of its high transcript levels at maturation. Hence, the high sucrose content in mature leaves was not due to increased sucrose-synthesizing activity, but more to the decline in sucrose cleavage. Gene expression and activities of sucrose-metabolizing enzymes in Hevea leaves showed striking differences compared with other plants. Unlike in most other species where vacuolar invertase predominates in sucrose cleavage in developing leaves, cytoplasmic invertase and sucrose synthase (cleavage direction) also featured prominently in Hevea. Whereas SPS is normally responsible for sucrose synthesis in plant leaves, sucrose synthase (synthesis direction) was comparable or higher than that of SPS in Hevea leaves. Mature Hevea leaves had an unusually high sucrose:starch ratio of about 11, the highest reported to date in plants.

Exploration of natural enzyme inhibitors with hypoglycemic potentials amongst Eucalyptus Spp. by in vitro assays

AIM

To investigate the presence and potency of natural enzyme inhibitors with hypoglycemic potentials amongst Eucalyptus Spp. by in vitro assays.

METHODS

The leaf extracts of the three different Eucalyptus species [E. globulus (EG), E. citriodora (EC), E. camaldulensis (ECA)] were subjected to in vitro assay procedures to explore the prevalence of natural enzyme inhibitors (NEIs) after preliminary qualitative and quantitative phytochemical evaluations, to study their inhibitory actions against the enzymes like α-amylase, α-glucosidase, aldose reductase, angiotensin converting enzyme and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 playing pathogenic roles in type 2 diabetes. The antioxidant potential and total antioxidant capacity of the species were also evaluated.

RESULTS

Major bioactive compounds like polyphenols (341.75 ± 3.63 to 496.85 ± 3.98) and flavonoids (4.89 ± 0.01 to 7.15 ± 0.02) were found in appreciable quantity in three species. Based on the IC50 values of the extracts under investigation, in all assays the effectivity was in the order of EG > ECA > EC. The results of the ferric reducing antioxidant power assay showed that the reducing ability of the species was also in the order of EG > ECA > EC. A strong correlation (R(2) = 0.81-0.99) was found between the phenolic contents and the inhibitory potentials of the extracts against the targeted enzymes.

CONCLUSION

These results show immense hypoglycemic potentiality of the Eucalyptus Spp. and a remarkable source of NEIs for a future phytotherapeutic approach in Type 2 diabetes.

Molecular size and molecular size distribution affecting traditional balsamic vinegar aging

A first attempt at a semiquantitative study of molecular weight (MW) and molecular weight distribution (MWD) in cooked grape must and traditional balsamic vinegar (TBV) with increasing well-defined age was performed by high-performance liquid size exclusion chromatography (SEC) using dual detection, that is, differential refractive index (DRI) and absorbance (UV-vis) based detectors. With this aim, MW and MWD, including number- and weight-average MW and polydispersity, were determined with respect to a secondary standard and then analyzed. All investigated vinegar samples were recognized as compositionally and structurally heterogeneous blends of copolymers (melanoidins) spreading over a wide range of molecular sizes: the relative MW ranged from 2 to >2000 kDa. The extent of the polymerization reactions was in agreement with the TBV browning kinetics. MWD parameters varied asymptotically toward either upper or lower limits during aging, reflecting a nonequilibrium status of the balance between polymerization and depolymerization reactions in TBV. MWD parameters were proposed as potential aging markers of TBV.