The potato StMKK5-StSIPK module enhances resistance to Phytophthora pathogens through activating the salicylic acid and ethylene signalling pathways

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades play pivotal roles in plant responses to both biotic and abiotic stress. A screen of a Nicotiana benthamiana cDNA virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) library for altered plant responses to inoculation with Phytophthora infestans previously identified an NbMKK gene, encoding a clade D MAPKK that we renamed as NbMKK5, which is involved in immunity to P. infestans. To study the role of the potato orthologous gene, referred to as StMKK5, in the response to P. infestans, we transiently overexpressed StMKK5 in N. benthamiana and observed that cell death occurred at 2 days postinfiltration. Silencing of the highly conserved eukaryotic protein SGT1 delayed the StMKK5-induced cell death, whereas silencing of the MAPK-encoding gene NbSIPK completely abolished the cell death response. Further investigations showed that StMKK5 interacts with, and directly phosphorylates, StSIPK. Furthermore, both StMKK5 and StSIPK trigger salicylic acid (SA)- and ethylene (Eth)-related gene expression, and co-expression of the salicylate hydroxylase NahG with the negative regulator of Eth signalling CTR1 hampers StSIPK-triggered cell death. This observation indicates that the cell death triggered by StMKK5-StSIPK is dependent on the combination of SA- and Eth-signalling. By introducing point mutations, we showed that the kinase activity of both StMKK5 and StSIPK is required for triggering cell death. Genetic analysis showed that StMKK5 depends on StSIPK to trigger plant resistance. Thus, our results define a potato StMKK5-SIPK module that positively regulates immunity to P. infestans via activation of both the SA and Eth signalling pathways.     

The complex genome and adaptive evolution of polyploid Chinese pepper (Zanthoxylum armatum and Zanthoxylum bungeanum)

Zanthoxylum armatum and Zanthoxylum bungeanum, known as ‘Chinese pepper’, are distinguished by their extraordinary complex genomes, phenotypic innovation of adaptive evolution and species-special metabolites. Here, we report reference-grade genomes of Z. armatum and Z. bungeanum. Using high coverage sequence data and comprehensive assembly strategies, we derived 66 pseudochromosomes comprising 33 homologous phased groups of two subgenomes, including autotetraploid Z. armatum. The genomic rearrangements and two whole-genome duplications created large (~4.5 Gb) complex genomes with a high ratio of repetitive sequences (>82%) and high chromosome number (2n = 4x = 132). Further analysis of the high-quality genomes shed lights on the genomic basis of involutional reproduction, allomones biosynthesis and adaptive evolution in Chinese pepper, revealing a high consistent relationship between genomic evolution, environmental factors and phenotypic innovation. Our study provides genomic resources and new insights for investigating diversification and phenotypic innovation in Chinese pepper, with broader implications for the protection of plants under severe environmental changes.     

Eu3+-activated red phosphor Ca3YAl3B4O15 with low thermal quenching behaviour

This paper reports a sequence of a Ca₃YAl₃B₄O₁₅:xEu³⁺ red phosphor prepared using a high-temperature solid-state reaction. At the excitation of 396 nm, the samples emitted intense red emission centred at ~623 nm, which could be attributed to the ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ transition of the Eu³⁺ ion. The results showed that the optimum Eu³⁺ doping concentration of Ca₃YAl₃B₄O₁₅:Eu³⁺ phosphor was x = 80 mol%, and the concentration quenching mechanism of Ca₃YAl₃B₄O₁₅:Eu³⁺ red phosphor belonged to the exchange coupling between Eu³⁺ ions. The Commission Internationale de l'éclairage (CIE) coordinates and colour purity of Ca₃Y_0.2Al₃B₄O₁₅:0.8Eu³⁺ were calculated as (0.6375, 0.3476) and 95.5%, respectively. Moreover, the red emission of the obtained phosphor Ca₃YAl₃B₄O₁₅:0.8Eu³⁺ exhibited a low thermal quenching behaviour with an intensity retention rate of 92.85% at 150°C. The above results manifest that the Eu³⁺-activated Ca₃YAl₃B₄O₁₅ phosphor is predicted to be a promising red luminescent component for white light-emitting diodes.     

大河岸线生态完整性内涵及评估方法——以长江岸线为例

大河岸线作为流域的重要生态空间,其内涵属性、空间格局和生态功能都具有显著的整体性。从岸线的陆域原真性、水陆生态渐变性、生境依存性及生物多样性等维度,分析了大河岸线生态完整性的科学内涵。结合国内外河流岸线生态评价研究,建立了大河岸线生态完整性的科学表征体系,提出各项指标评估和综合分级方法,并对长江岸线生态完整性进行了评估。结果表明,长江岸线生态完整性总体处于中等水平,从上游到下游沿岸各地市岸段生态完整性得分总体逐步降低;中上游地市岸段受到滨江湿地和洲岛发育程度及湿地保护状况等因素制约,下游地市岸段则受土地开发强度、自然岸线保有率、水陆连通性等制约。虽然中下游岸线有较高的开发程度且受长江大堤的约束,生态完整性受到明显影响,但在相同条件下生态完整性仍然有较大差异性,部分地区如铜陵段、安庆段和上海段仍保持了较高的完整性。大河岸线生态完整性的评估有助于形成既尊重自然规律、保护生态环境、保障防洪安全及供水安全,又能支撑社会经济发展、促进高效集约利用的长江生态岸线格局。     

基于水足迹的山东省农业水土资源匹配特征及短缺压力分析

高强度农业开发引起的农业水土资源生态问题日益增多,探究粮食及蔬菜（粮蔬）生产中水土资源空间配置及短缺压力对农业资源的可持续利用具有重要意义。从水足迹视角出发,分析了山东省3种主要粮食作物（冬小麦、玉米及大豆）和两种不同种植模式蔬菜（设施蔬菜和露地蔬菜）的生产水足迹空间特征;同时将资源数量及资源质量的概念纳入研究框架,分析了农业水土资源数量及质量匹配格局差异,并进一步探究了农业水土资源短缺压力及其影响因素。研究结果表明：（1）2019年,山东省粮食和蔬菜的生产总水足迹为811亿m³,其中粮食生产总水足迹占比78.50%,蔬菜生产总水足迹占比21.50%;粮蔬生产水足迹受地势影响明显,鲁西北及鲁西南平原地区的粮蔬生产水足迹占比较大。（2）考虑资源数量的水土资源匹配系数均值为0.622×10⁴ m³/hm²,考虑资源质量的匹配系数均值为0.416×10⁴ m³/hm²;水土资源数量及质量匹配系数在空间上呈现出一致性,表明山东省农业生产水土资源空间配置水平高的地区同时面临着较大的农业面源污染压力。（3）整体上,土地资源短缺压力略高于水资源短缺压力;基于生产视角的水土资源短缺压力受生产环境因素制约显著,受经济发展因素的影响具有差异性,社会因素对水土资源短缺压力无显著影响。研究可为农业资源可持续管理提供数据基础,为全面理解粮蔬生产所产生的水土资源短缺提供案例参考。     

甜樱桃对高温胁迫的生理响应

为探讨甜樱桃对高温胁迫的响应机制,以1年生的甜樱桃嫁接盆栽苗为试材,研究了自然高温处理及胁迫后恢复对其叶片生理和超显微结构的影响。结果表明：经连续3d日最高气温均值达57.7℃胁迫后,甜樱桃叶片过氧化氢酶(CAT)和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性、超氧阴离子(O₂^·-)产生速率、非光化学淬灭系数(qN)显著增加,渗透调节物质可溶性蛋白、可溶性糖及脯氨酸含量显著提高,谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)活性、叶绿素含量、PSII最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)和电子传递速率(ETR)显著下降,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化物酶(POD)活性及光化学淬灭系数(qP)变化不显著。同时对叶片显超微结构观察发现,胁迫引起叶绿体变性,基质内囊体发生扭曲,部分基粒类囊体片层消失,出现大量巨型淀粉粒及嗜锇颗粒。恢复2d后SOD、POD、CAT、APX活性以及可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白、叶绿素总含量均显著下降,而GR活性和脯氨酸含量显著升高。以上表明,连续3d自然最高气温达57.7℃对甜樱桃叶片抗氧化系统和光合特性等产生了显著影响,叶绿体超显微结构受到明显破坏,对叶片造成了不可逆...     

Effects of ROS and caspase-3-like protein on the growth and aerenchyma formation of Potamogeton perfoliatus stem

Protoplasma - Aerenchyma formation plays an important role in the survival of Potamogeton perfoliatus in submerged environment. To understand the regulatory role of reactive oxygen species (ROS)...     

Effects of compound sodium nitrophenol on microspore embryogenesis and plantlet regeneration in flowering Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L. ssp. chinensis var. utilis Tsen et Lee)

Isolated microspore culture has been implemented in breeding programs to produce doubled haploid (DH) lines and thus accelerates the breeding process. However, low microspore embryogenesis frequency in flowering Chinese cabbage remains a key obstacle to the practical application of this technique. This study aimed to establish an efficient microspore culture protocol for flowering Chinese cabbage that would be applied for heterosis breeding. Microspores of five genotypes, 19AY05, 19AY06, 19AY10, 19AY12, and 19AY15, were successfully induced to produce embryos in NLN-13 medium. Microspores of two genotypes, 19AY05 and 19AY15, were cultivated in NLN-13 medium supplemented with different concentrations (0, 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, or 0.2 mg·L⁻¹) of compound sodium nitrophenol (sodium nitrophenol, 5-nitrophenol) to enhance microspore embryogenesis and plant regeneration without an intervening callus phase. The results showed that 0.05 ~ 0.1 mg· L⁻¹ sodium nitrophenol and 0.01 ~ 0.2 mg· L⁻¹ of 5-nitrophenol significantly promoted the induction of microspore embryogenesis of two genotypes, and the best concentrations required for different genotypes are different. Moreover, 0.1 mg· L⁻¹ sodium nitrophenol can significantly increase the plant regeneration rate of the two genetypes. The 5-nitrophenol at 0.01 mg·L⁻¹ significantly increased rate of embryos directly convert to plant in 19AY15. In addition, the average doubled haploid rates in the five genotypes were close to 63%. Horticultural traits of DH lines from 19AY05 were identified and all of them were self-incompatible lines. They showed a high uniformity and consistency that can be directly used for hybrid breeding. Furthermore, the hybrid combination was prepared with the selected DH lines and the Guangdong nucleus genic sterile line GMS019 to screen the excellent hybrid combination for the flowering Chinese cabbage breeding program. This method accelerates the application of microspore culture in hybrid breeding of flowering Chinese cabbage.

     

Successful application of microspore culture in pakchoi (Brassica campestris L. ssp. chinensis Makino var. communis Tsen et Lee) for hybrid breeding

Protoplasma - Microspore embryogenesis is an effective method of obtaining double haploid (DH) lines in only 1 year. However, the microspore embryogenesis protocol was not efficient in...