Effect of Vaccinium ashei reade Leaf Extracts on Lipid Metabolism in Obese OLETF Rats

The effects of a hot water extract and fractional extracts from rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium ashei reade) leaves (BBL) on lipid metabolism were studied in obese Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats. Feeding the hot water extract and fractional extracts from BBL alleviated hepatic triglyceride accumulation in the rats. Additionally, feeding with the flavonol glycoside (FG) and proanthocyanidin (PA) fractions lowered serum cholesterol levels in the obese rats. The results from measurements of the hepatic enzyme activity indicate that the hypolipidemic effects of the hot water extract and the PA fraction might be attributable to enhanced lipolysis in the liver. The reduced serum levels of C-reactive protein, an inflammatory cytokine, by the chlorogenic acid + rutin fraction and FG fraction might be associated with alleviating the metabolic abnormalities in obese rats. These results indicate that the BBL extracts, and especially FG and PA, exerted hypolipidemic effects on obese OLETF rats and suggest that an infusion of BBL can be useful as a dietary hypolipidemic component.     

A chromosome-scale assembly of the bilberry genome identifies a complex locus controlling berry anthocyanin composition

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) belongs to the Vaccinium genus, which includes blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) and cranberry (V. macrocarpon). Unlike its cultivated relatives, bilberry remains largely undomesticated, with berry harvesting almost entirely from the wild. As such, it represents an ideal target for genomic analysis, providing comparisons with the domesticated Vaccinium species. Bilberry is prized for its taste and health properties and has provided essential nutrition for Northern European indigenous populations. It contains high concentrations of phytonutrients, with perhaps the most important being the purple colored anthocyanins, found in both skin and flesh. Here, we present the first bilberry genome assembly, comprising 12 pseudochromosomes assembled using Oxford Nanopore (ONT) and Hi-C Technologies. The pseudochromosomes represent 96.6% complete BUSCO genes with an assessed LAI score of 16.3, showing a high conservation of synteny against the blueberry genome. Kmer analysis showed an unusual third peak, indicating the sequenced samples may have been from two individuals. The alternate alleles were purged so that the final assembly represents only one haplotype. A total of 36,404 genes were annotated after nearly 48% of the assembly was masked to remove repeats. To illustrate the genome quality, we describe the complex MYBA locus, and identify the key regulating MYB genes that determine anthocyanin production. The new bilberry genome builds on the genomic resources and knowledge of Vaccinium species, to help understand the genetics underpinning some of the quality attributes that breeding programs aspire to improve. The high conservation of synteny between bilberry and blueberry genomes means that comparative genome mapping can be applied to transfer knowledge about marker-trait association between these two species, as the loci involved in key characters are orthologous.     

蓝莓的成分与保健功能的研究进展

越橘属蓝莓含有花青苷（花青素或酚配基,与糖的结合体）。紫檀芪、鞣花酸、超氧化物歧化酶、熊果酸、酚酸及不同维生素等生物活性成分。很早就报道蓝莓所含花青苷可加速视紫素的再生而有益于视力及眼部健康。近年的研究显示蓝莓具有抗氧化作用,预防癌症、降血脂、降胆固醇、增强记忆、抗衰老、增强人体免疫、保护视力、抗糖尿病等保健功能。因此蓝莓被认为是最有营养的食物之一。     

铵态氮与硝态氮比例对南方高丛蓝浆果丛生枝增殖及生长的影响

以MWPM为基本培养基,在总氮浓度不变的前提下比较了铵态氮(NH4+-N)与硝态氮(NO3--N)比例对南方高丛蓝浆果(Vaccinium corymbosum hybrids)品种‘南月’(‘Southmoon’)优选系A47、A119和A167丛生枝增殖和生长的影响.结果表明:与对照[n(NH4+-N)∶n( NO3--N)=4∶10]相比,当培养基中的n(NH4+ -N)∶n(NO3--N)调整为5∶10、6∶10、7∶10、8∶10、9∶10和10∶10时,总体上对优选系A47、A119和A167丛生枝的总增殖倍数、有效增殖倍数、鲜质量、干质量、含水量、总长度以及叶片叶绿素含量有一定的提高作用,具体表现则因优选系的基因型而异.调整培养基中n(NH4 +-N)∶n( NO3- -N)为7∶10,优选系A47丛生枝的总增殖倍数、有效增殖倍数、鲜质量、干质量和总长度均显著提高,叶片叶绿素含量也有所提高.调整培养基中n(NH4 +-N)∶n(NO3--N)为7∶10和9∶10,对优选系A119和A167丛生枝的生长有一定的促进作用,但总体增殖效果与对照无显著差异.研究结果显示:培养基中的铵态氮与硝态氮比例对南方高丛蓝浆果丛生枝的增殖及生长有一定的影响;在离体增殖时应针对不同品种或优选系采用适宜的NH4 +-N与NO3 - -N比例.     

ZT和2iP对3个南方高丛蓝浆果优选系丛生枝增殖及生长的影响

研究了不同质量浓度ZT和2iP对南方高丛蓝浆果(Vaccinium corymbosum hybrids)优选系A47、A119和A167丛生枝的增殖倍数、质量、含水量和长度的影响.结果表明,在0.5～3.0 mg·L~(-1)质量浓度范围内,随ZT质量浓度提高,3个优选系丛生枝的总增殖倍数、有效增殖倍数、鲜质量、干质量、含水量及总长度均呈增加趋势,而平均长度则呈下降趋势.在2.5～15.0 mg·L~(-1)质量浓度范围内,随2iP质量浓度提高,3个优选系丛生枝的总增殖倍数和含水量先增加后下降,在2iP质量浓度为5.0～10.0 mg·L~(-1)时达到峰值;有效增殖倍数、总长度和平均长度一直呈下降趋势;鲜质量和干质量无明显的变化规律.在改良WPM培养基中添加2.0～3.0 mg·L~(-1) ZT或5.0～10.0 mg·L~(-1) 2iP可使3个南方高丛蓝浆果优选系丛生枝有较高的增殖倍数,而添加0.5～1.0 mg·L~(-1) ZT或2.5 mg·L~(-1) 2iP可使丛生枝生长较好.此外,优选系A47和A167丛生枝的增殖倍数显著高于优选系A119.     

Factors affecting the efficacy of a vinegar trap for Drosophila suzikii (Diptera; Drosophilidae)

Drosophila suzukii, Matsumura, is a relatively new pest in the United States attacking a variety of fruit crops. Studies were conducted to develop a standardized, economical trap for monitoring. Laboratory bioassays found that flies were attracted to dark colours ranging from red to black. Similarly, fly catches in 237‐ml plastic ‘spice’ jars with ten 0.48‐cm holes and baited with apple cider vinegar were significantly higher in jars with red or black than white caps. The use of an alternating set of three, horizontal red, black and red bands (‘Zorro’ trap) significantly increased fly catches compared with the use of all‐red or all‐black strips. This increase was associated with a significantly higher proportion of flies first landing on the side near the openings of the trap instead of on the cap with the ‘Zorro’ trap compared with the other traps. Laboratory data were used to develop a predictive model to define total fly capture as a function of trap colour/colour pattern, cumulative area of entry holes and the length of the trapping portion of the trap. Total fly catches by the ‘Zorro’ trap were compared with other red and clear plastic traps in five field trials conducted in several cultivated and uncultivated sites. Comparisons included a commercial red‐capped 200‐ml trap with two 0.63‐cm holes, an all‐red spice jar with ten 0.48‐cm holes and clear and red 473‐ml and clear 946‐ml plastic cups with six or ten 0.48‐ or 0.63‐cm holes. The model was successfully validated, suggesting that performance of cup traps can be predicted based on a few characteristics. The current ‘Zorro’ trap did not catch most of the flies among trap designs, but showed some advantages, including the durability and potential to recycle the plastic, small size, commercial availability and its greater selectivity for D. suzukii than the other traps tested.     

Combinatorial effect of blueberry extracts and oxaliplatin in human colon cancer cells

The use of natural compounds to potentiate the effect of drugs and lower their adverse effects is an active area of research. The objective is to determine the effect of combined blueberry extracts (BE) and oxaliplatin (OX) in colon cancer cells. The results demonstrated that treatments of BE/OX showed inhibitory effects on HCT-116 cell and nontoxic effect on CCD-18Co normal colon cells. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that treatment with the BE, OX or in combination could induce G0/G1 cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, increase of reactive oxygen species, and induce loss of mitochondrial membrane potential in HCT-116 cells. Furthermore, after treatments, the expression of inflammatory cytokines was decreased, cyclin D1 and CDK4 were decreased; caspases-3 and 9 were activated; the Akt/Bad/Bcl-2 pathway was modulated. Moreover, the combination treatment had a considerably higher growth inhibitory effect on human colon cancer HCT-116 cells than that of BE or oxaliplatin alone. Our results showed that BE increased the anticolon cancer effect of OX making it an attractive strategy as adjuvant therapy to potentially reduce the adverse side effects associated with chemotherapeutic drugs.     

我国和世蓝浆果的发展前景

蓝浆果是具独特保健作用、生食加工皆宜的适于我国红黄壤地区开发的新兴经济作物。通过对美国一些研究机构和苗圃的考察及参加在智利举行的第七届国际蓝浆果研讨会,对目前世界蓝浆果的发展状况、趋势及一些最新研究成果作了概述,对我国发展蓝浆果的前景、方向等进行了讨论。     

Diversity of fungal latent pathogens and true endophytes associated with fruit trees in Uruguay

We have explored the fungal diversity in asymptomatic twigs of apple, peach, pear and blueberry trees, with the objective of discerning between true endophytes and latent pathogens. Several fungal genera containing known bark pathogens were found. Seven Diaporthe species—D. oxe, D. infecunda, D. serafiniae, D. phaseolorum, D. terebinthifolii, D. foeniculina and D. brasiliensis—were identified, along with Botryosphaeria dothidea, Neofusicoccum parvum, Neofusicoccum australe, Cytospora sp., Cytospora acaciae and Pestalotiopsis spp. A pathogenicity trial was undertaken to determine the role of these species on apple, pear, blueberry and peach shoots. Diaporthe brasiliensis, D. foeniculina, Diaporthe inconspicua, D. terebinthifolii, Diaporthe sp.1, Cytospora‐like isolates and Pestalotiopsis spp. isolates produced no lesions on inoculated shoots, suggesting that they could be considered true endophytes on their respective hosts. Meanwhile, some of the isolates of Diaporthe—D. oxe, Diaporthe sp.2, D. infecunda and D. serafiniae, B. dothidea, N. parvum and N. australe could be regarded as latent pathogens in their respective hosts as they produced sunken cankers and necrosis on inoculated shoots. These results demonstrate that apple, pear, blueberry and peach healthy shoots can host many known endophytic fungi along with potential wood disease‐causing fungi that should be regarded as latent pathogens.     

美国蓝浆果的引种

１９８８年由美国引入１２个兔眼蓝浆果（ＶａｃｉｎｉｕｍａｓｈｅｉＲｅａｄｅ）品种,在江苏南京和溧水两地试种。１０年来生长结果正常,产量和品质与原产地无显著差异,引种获得成功,证明兔眼蓝浆果能适应本地区自然条件。单株产量平均７．５１ｋｇ,品种间差异显著,最高９．８６ｋｇ,最低１３４ｋｇ。单位投影面积产量３．１０ｋｇ／ｍ２,最高４．０６ｋｇ／ｍ２,最低１．１３ｋｇ／ｍ２。高于或至少不低于原产区产量记录。据此预测,栽植距离适宜时,在本地区亩产量可达１５００～２０００ｋｇ以上。大多数品种果实糖酸比很高,鲜食风味好,氨基酸含量中等,矿质元素Ｚｎ和Ｓｅ含量高。兔眼蓝浆果可在江苏南部丘陵地区发展;此外,还应将试验扩大到南方红黄壤地区;并对本国野生资源开展研究和利用。