Genome-Wide Identification of Cotton (Gossypium spp.) Glycerol-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (GPDH) Family Members and the Role of GhGPDH5 in Response to Drought Stress

Long non-coding RNAs and their potential function in response to postharvest senescence of Sparassis latifolia during cold storage

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to play crucial roles in response to aging processes. However, how lncRNAs regulate postharvest senescence of Sparassis latifolia (S. latifolia) with oriented polypropylene (OPP) film packing during cold storage remains unclear. In this study, we performed RNA-seq using the fruiting bodies of S. latifolia stored at 4 ℃ for 0, 8, 16 and 24 days after harvest, and profiled the lncRNA and mRNA transcriptome, respectively. In total, 1003 putative lncRNAs were identified, and there were 495, 483 and 162 differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs, and 3680, 3941 and 1870 differentially expressed mRNAs after 8, 16 and 24 days of storage, respectively, compared to 0 day of storage. Target genes of differentially expressed lncRNAs were found to significantly associate with carbon and energy metabolism, response to abiotic stimulus, amino acid biosynthesis and metabolism, and protein synthesis and transcription. In addition, DE-lncRNA-mRNA co-expression networks in response to aging stress were also constructed. Taken together, these results confirm the regulatory role of lncRNAs in postharvest senescence of S. latifolia and will facilitate for improving preservation method.

Screening low-methanol and high-aroma produced yeasts for cider fermentation by transcriptive characterization

The commercial active dry yeast strains used for cider production in China are far behind the requirements of the cider industry development in recent decades. In this study, eight yeasts, including Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Pichia bruneiensis, and Pichia kudriavzevii, were screened and assessed by growth performance, methanol production, aroma analysis, and their transcriptive characterization. Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains WFC-SC-071 and WFC-SC-072 were identified as promising alternatives for cider production. Strains WFC-SC-071 and WFC-SC-072 showed an excellent growth capacity characterized by 91.6 and 88.8% sugar utilization, respectively. Methanol production by both strains was below 200 mg/L. Key aroma compounds imparting cider appreciably characteristic aroma increased in cider fermented by strains WFC-SC-071 and WFC-SC-072. RT-qPCR analysis suggested that most genes associated with growth capacity, carbohydrate uptake, and aroma production were upregulated in WFC-SC-071 and WFC-SC-072. Overall, two Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains are the optimal starters for cider production to enable the diversification of cider, satisfy the differences in consumer demand, and promote cider industry development.