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Souza C, Valadão-Mendes LB, Schulze-Albuquerque I, Bergamo PJ, Souza DD, Nogueira A. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria boost floral attractiveness in a tropical legume species during nutrient limitation. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2024:e16363. [PMID: 38956859 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.16363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
PREMISE Legumes establish mutualistic interactions with pollinators and nitrogen (N)-fixing bacteria that are critical for plant reproduction and ecosystem functioning. However, we know little about how N-fixing bacteria and soil nutrient availability affect plant attractiveness to pollinators. METHODS In a two-factorial greenhouse experiment to assess the impact of N-fixing bacteria and soil types on floral traits and attractiveness to pollinators in Chamaecrista latistipula (Fabaceae), plants were inoculated with N-fixing bacteria (NF+) or not (NF-) and grown in N-rich organic soil (+N organic soil) or N-poor sand soil (-N sand soil). We counted buds and flowers and measured plant size during the experiment. We also measured leaf, petal, and anther reflectance with a spectrophotometer and analyzed reflectance curves. Using the bee hexagon model, we estimated chromatic contrasts, a crucial visual cues for attracting bees that are nearby and more distant. RESULTS NF+ plants in -N sand soil had a high floral display and color contrasts. On the other hand, NF- plants and/or plants in +N organic soil had severely reduced floral display and color contrasts, decreasing floral attractiveness to bee pollinators. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that the N-fixing bacteria positively impact pollination, particularly when nutrients are limited. This study provides insights into the dynamics of plant-pollinator interactions and underscores the significant influence of root symbionts on key floral traits within tropical ecosystems. These results contribute to understanding the mechanisms governing mutualisms and their consequences for plant fitness and ecological dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Souza
- Laboratório de Interações Planta-Animal (LIPA), Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Evolução e Diversidade, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil
| | - Lorena B Valadão-Mendes
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia, Conservação e Manejo da Vida Silvestre, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brasil
| | - Isadora Schulze-Albuquerque
- Departamento de Botânica, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Pedro J Bergamo
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro, Av 24 1515, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Douglas D Souza
- Laboratório de Interações Planta-Animal (LIPA), Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Evolução e Diversidade, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil
| | - Anselmo Nogueira
- Laboratório de Interações Planta-Animal (LIPA), Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Evolução e Diversidade, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil
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Peralta G, CaraDonna PJ, Rakosy D, Fründ J, Pascual Tudanca MP, Dormann CF, Burkle LA, Kaiser-Bunbury CN, Knight TM, Resasco J, Winfree R, Blüthgen N, Castillo WJ, Vázquez DP. Predicting plant-pollinator interactions: concepts, methods, and challenges. Trends Ecol Evol 2024; 39:494-505. [PMID: 38262775 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Plant-pollinator interactions are ecologically and economically important, and, as a result, their prediction is a crucial theoretical and applied goal for ecologists. Although various analytical methods are available, we still have a limited ability to predict plant-pollinator interactions. The predictive ability of different plant-pollinator interaction models depends on the specific definitions used to conceptualize and quantify species attributes (e.g., morphological traits), sampling effects (e.g., detection probabilities), and data resolution and availability. Progress in the study of plant-pollinator interactions requires conceptual and methodological advances concerning the mechanisms and species attributes governing interactions as well as improved modeling approaches to predict interactions. Current methods to predict plant-pollinator interactions present ample opportunities for improvement and spark new horizons for basic and applied research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guadalupe Peralta
- Multidisciplinary Institute of Plant Biology, National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET)-National University of Córdoba, Córdoba, X5016GCN, Argentina.
| | - Paul J CaraDonna
- Chicago Botanic Garden, Negaunee Institute for Plant Conservation Science and Action, Glencoe, IL 60022, USA; Plant Biology and Conservation, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
| | - Demetra Rakosy
- Department for Community Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Leipzig 04318, Germany; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Jochen Fründ
- Biometry and Environmental System Analysis, University of Freiburg, Freiburg 79098, Germany; Animal Network Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg 20148, Germany
| | - María P Pascual Tudanca
- Argentine Institute for Dryland Research, National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET)-National University of Cuyo, Mendoza 5500, Argentina
| | - Carsten F Dormann
- Biometry and Environmental System Analysis, University of Freiburg, Freiburg 79098, Germany
| | - Laura A Burkle
- Department of Ecology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
| | - Christopher N Kaiser-Bunbury
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Tiffany M Knight
- Department for Community Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Leipzig 04318, Germany; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig 04103, Germany; Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale) 06108, Germany
| | - Julian Resasco
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Rachael Winfree
- Department of Ecology, Evolution & Natural Resources, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Nico Blüthgen
- Ecological Networks Lab, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt 64287, Germany
| | - William J Castillo
- Biometry and Environmental System Analysis, University of Freiburg, Freiburg 79098, Germany
| | - Diego P Vázquez
- Argentine Institute for Dryland Research, National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET)-National University of Cuyo, Mendoza 5500, Argentina; Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, National University of Cuyo, Mendoza M5502, Argentina.
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Hyjazie BF, Sargent RD. Manipulation of soil mycorrhizal fungi influences floral traits. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 242:675-686. [PMID: 38403925 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Most plants form root hyphal relationships with mycorrhizal fungi, especially arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). These associations are known to positively impact plant biomass and competitive ability. However, less is known about how mycorrhizas impact other ecological interactions, such as those mediated by pollinators. We performed a meta-regression of studies that manipulated AMF and measured traits related to pollination, including floral display size, rewards, visitation, and reproduction, extracting 63 studies with 423 effects. On average, the presence of mycorrhizas was associated with positive effects on floral traits. Specifically, we found impacts of AMF on floral display size, pollinator visitation and reproduction, and a positive but nonsignificant impact on rewards. Studies manipulating mycorrhizas with fungicide tended to report contrasting results, possibly because fungicide destroys both beneficial and pathogenic microbes. Our study highlights the potential for relationships with mycorrhizal fungi to play an important, yet underrecognized role in plant-pollinator interactions. With heightened awareness of the need for a more sustainable agricultural industry, mycorrhizal fungi may offer the opportunity to reduce reliance on inorganic fertilizers. At the same time, fungicides are now ubiquitous in agricultural systems. Our study demonstrates indirect ways in which plant-belowground fungal partnerships could manifest in plant-pollinator interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Batoule F Hyjazie
- Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Risa D Sargent
- Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
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Abou Fayssal S, Kumar P, Popescu SM, Khanday MUD, Sardar H, Ahmad R, Gupta D, Kumar Gaur S, Alharby HF, Al-Ghamdi AG. Health risk assessment of heavy metals in saffron ( Crocus sativus L.) cultivated in domestic wastewater and lake water irrigated soils. Heliyon 2024; 10:e27138. [PMID: 38455530 PMCID: PMC10918222 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Irrigation of crops with domestic wastewater (DW) is a common practice in developing countries like India. However, domestic wastewater irrigation poses a risk of migration of toxic heavy metals to edible parts of crops, which requires serious measures to prevent their uptake. In this study, the effect of DW irrigation in comparison with Sarbal Lake water (SLW) and borewell water (BW) on soil characteristics and cultivated saffron (Crocus sativus L.) was investigated. For this purpose, samples of water, soil, and saffron (corm, petal, and stigma) were collected from the suburban area of Pampore, Srinagar district, Jammu and Kashmir, India. The results showed that DW irrigation had the maximum significant (p < 0.05) influence on the physico-chemical and nutrient characteristics of the soil, followed by SLW and BW irrigation, respectively. The growth and yield parameters of saffron were also significantly (p < 0.05) increased in the case of DW irrigation as compared to SLW and BW. The quality ranking of the cultivated saffron was found to be in accordance with the ISO standard (III: BW and II: DW and SLW). On the other hand, DW irrigation showed a significant increase in heavy metal contents (mg/kg) of saffron plant parts such as As (0.21-0.40), Cd (0.04-0.09), Cr (0.16-0.41), Cu (7.31-14. 75), Fe (142.38-303.15), Pb (0.18-0.31), Mn (15.26-22.81), Hg (0.18-0.25), Ni (0.74-1.18), Se (0.13-0.22), and Zn (3.44-4.59), followed by SLW and BW. However, the levels of heavy metals did not exceed the FAO/WHO safe limits. Bioaccumulation factor (BAF), dietary intake modeling (DIM<0.006496), health risk assessment (HRI<0.028571), and target hazard quotient (THQ<1) analyses showed no potential health hazard associated with the consumption of saffron irrigated with DW and SLW. Therefore, the results of this study provide valuable insights into the optimization of irrigation sources for saffron cultivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sami Abou Fayssal
- Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agronomy, University of Forestry, 10 Kliment Ohridski Blvd, 1797 Sofia, Bulgaria
- Department of Plant Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Lebanese University, Beirut 1302, Lebanon
| | - Pankaj Kumar
- Agroecology and Pollution Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Environmental Science, Gurukula Kangri (Deemed to Be University), Haridwar 249404, Uttarakhand, India
- Research and Development Division, Society for AgroEnvironmental Sustainability, Dehradun 248007, India
| | - Simona M. Popescu
- Department of Biology and Environmental Engineering, University of Craiova, A.I. Cuza 13, 200585 Craiova, Romania
| | - Mehraj ud-din Khanday
- Division of Soil Science, Faculty of Horticulture, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Kashmir 190025, India
| | - Hasan Sardar
- Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan
| | - Riaz Ahmad
- Department of Horticulture, The University of Agriculture, Dera Ismail Khan 29111, Pakistan
| | - Deep Gupta
- College of Smart Agriculture, COER University, Roorkee 247667, India
| | | | - Hesham F. Alharby
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Plant Biology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah G. Al-Ghamdi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
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Gao R, Hu B, Yuan Y, He M, Wang R, Lou Y, Mu J. Nitrogen addition affects floral and vegetative traits, reproduction, and pollinator performance in Capsicum annuum L. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2023; 132:1131-1144. [PMID: 37638856 PMCID: PMC10809046 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcad121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS It has been demonstrated that nitrogen (N) addition alters flower morphology, floral rewards and pollinator performance. However, little is known about the effects of N addition on plant reproduction, including fruit set and seed set during selfing and outcrossing, floral and vegetative traits, and pollinator performance. We hypothesized that N addition would influence fruit set, seed set in selfed and outcrossed flowers, the relationship between vegetative and flower traits, and pollinator performance. METHODS A 2-year pot experiment was conducted in which Capsicum annuum was exposed to three levels of relatively short-term N supply, i.e. 0 g m-2 (no N addition, as a control), 4 g m-2 (4N) and 16 g m-2 (16N), which are equivalent to about 0-, 1- and 4-fold of the peak local N deposition. We measured flower rewards, flower morphology, flowering phenology, as well as pollinator visitation rate, fruit set and seed set by self- and outcross-fertilization of C. annuum. RESULTS The four levels of N addition increased plant biomass, biomass allocation to flowers, flower size, stigma-anther separation, nectar production and pollen production, resulting in an increase in pollinator visitation and fruit set. Nevertheless, the control and 16 levels of N addition reduced plant biomass, biomass allocation to flowers, flower size and stigma-anther separation, and nectar and pollen production, and consequently decreased pollinator visitation and fruit set. Exclusion of pollinators and hand-pollination experiments revealed that low levels of N addition were associated with high seed set in outcrossed flowers; however, this trend was reversed in flowers grown in the control and 16N treatments. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that an optimal level of 4N can enhance the correlation between flower traits, pollinator performance and plant reproduction. Our findings cast new light on the underlying mechanisms of plant-pollinator interactions and plant adaptation to nitrogen deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Gao
- Ecological Security and Protection Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Mianyang Normal University, Mianyang 621000, China
| | - Baoshuang Hu
- Ecological Security and Protection Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Mianyang Normal University, Mianyang 621000, China
- College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Yibin Yuan
- Chengdu Academy of Environmental Science, Chengdu, 610072, China
| | - Mengying He
- Ecological Security and Protection Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Mianyang Normal University, Mianyang 621000, China
| | - Ruolan Wang
- Ecological Security and Protection Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Mianyang Normal University, Mianyang 621000, China
| | - Yuanxin Lou
- Ecological Security and Protection Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Mianyang Normal University, Mianyang 621000, China
| | - Junpeng Mu
- Ecological Security and Protection Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Mianyang Normal University, Mianyang 621000, China
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Lou Y, Wang R, Che P, Zhao C, Chen Y, Yang Y, Mu J. Nitrogen Addition Affects Interannual Variation in Seed Production in a Tibetan Perennial Herb. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1132. [PMID: 37627016 PMCID: PMC10452069 DOI: 10.3390/biology12081132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
The variability observed in the annual seed production of perennial plants can be seen as an indication of changes in the allocation of resources between growth and reproduction, which can be attributed to fluctuations in the environment. However, a significant knowledge gap exists concerning the impacts of nitrogen addition on the interannual seed production patterns of perennial plants. We hypothesized that the addition of nitrogen would impact the annual variations in the seed production of perennial plants, ultimately affecting their overall reproductive efficiency. A multiyear field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of varying nitrogen supply levels (e.g., 0, 4, and 8 kg N ha-1 yr-1 of N0, N4, and N8) on vegetative and floral traits, pollinator visitation rates, and seed traits over a period of four consecutive years. The results showed that the N0 treatment exhibited the highest levels of seed production and reproductive efficiency within the initial two years. In contrast, the N4 treatment displayed its highest level of performance in these metrics in the second and third years, whereas the N8 treatment showcased its most favorable outcomes in the third and fourth years. Similar patterns were found in the number of flowers per capitulum and the number of capitula per plant. There exists a positive correlation between aboveground biomass and several factors, including the number of flowers per capitulum, the number of capitula per plant, the volume of nectar per capitulum, and the seed production per plant. A positive correlation was found between pollinator visitation and the number of flowers per capitulum or the number of capitula per plant. This implies that the addition of N affected the maintenance of plant aboveground biomass, flower trait stability, pollinator visitation, and, subsequently, the frequency of seed production and reproductive efficiency. Our results suggest that augmenting the nitrogen content in the soil may have the capacity to modify the inherent variability in seed production that is observed across various years and enhance the effectiveness of reproductive processes. These findings have the potential to enhance our comprehension of the impact of nitrogen addition on the reproductive performance of perennial herbaceous plants and the underlying mechanisms of biodiversity in the context of global environmental changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanxin Lou
- Ecological Security and Protection Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Mianyang Normal University, Mianyang 621000, China; (Y.L.); (R.W.); (P.C.); (Y.C.)
| | - Ruolan Wang
- Ecological Security and Protection Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Mianyang Normal University, Mianyang 621000, China; (Y.L.); (R.W.); (P.C.); (Y.C.)
| | - Peiyue Che
- Ecological Security and Protection Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Mianyang Normal University, Mianyang 621000, China; (Y.L.); (R.W.); (P.C.); (Y.C.)
| | - Chuan Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China;
| | - Yali Chen
- Ecological Security and Protection Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Mianyang Normal University, Mianyang 621000, China; (Y.L.); (R.W.); (P.C.); (Y.C.)
| | - Yangheshan Yang
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China;
| | - Junpeng Mu
- Ecological Security and Protection Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Mianyang Normal University, Mianyang 621000, China; (Y.L.); (R.W.); (P.C.); (Y.C.)
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Luo H, Zhang H, Wang H. Advance in sex differentiation in cucumber. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1186904. [PMID: 37265638 PMCID: PMC10231686 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1186904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Cucumber belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae (melon genus) and is an annual herbaceous vegetable crop. Cucumber is an important cash crop that is grown all over the world. From morphology to cytology, from canonical genetics to molecular biology, researchers have performed much research on sex differentiation and its regulatory mechanism in cucumber, mainly in terms of cucumber sex determination genes, environmental conditions, and the effects of plant hormones, revealing its genetic basis to improve the number of female flowers in cucumber, thus greatly improving the yield of cucumber. This paper reviews the research progress of sex differentiation in cucumber in recent years, mainly focusing on sex-determining genes, environmental conditions, and the influence of phytohormones in cucumber, and provides a theoretical basis and technical support for the realization of high and stable yield cultivation and molecular breeding of cucumber crop traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Luo
- Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety Control of Subtropical Fruits and Vegetables, Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou, China
- Engineering Laboratory of Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops of Shandong Province, College of Horticulture, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
- Hangzhou Lin’an District Agricultural and Rural Bureau, Hangzhou, China
| | - Huanchun Zhang
- Yantai Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Yantai, China
| | - Huasen Wang
- Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety Control of Subtropical Fruits and Vegetables, Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou, China
- Engineering Laboratory of Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops of Shandong Province, College of Horticulture, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
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