scholarly journals Molecular Events Involved in Fruitlet Abscission in Litchi

Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 151
Author(s):  
Minglei Zhao ◽  
Jianguo Li
Keyword(s):  
South China ◽  
Fruit Development ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Environmental Cues ◽  
Fruit Abscission ◽  
Fruit Drop ◽  
Plant Body ◽  
Molecular Events ◽  
Fruitlet Abscission

Abscission in plants is an active and highly coordinated physiological process in which organs abscise from the plant body at the abscission zone (AZ) in responding to either developmental or environmental cues. Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) is an important economic fruit crop widely grown in Southeast Asia particularly in South China. However, the excessive fruit drop during fruit development is a major limiting factor for litchi production. Thus, it is an important agricultural concern to understand the mechanisms underlying the fruit abscission in litchi. Here, we present a review focusing on the molecular events involved in the fruitlet abscission. We also highlight the recent advances on genes specifically associated with fruit abscission and perspectives for future research.

scholarly journals Environmental Cues and Mechanisms Underpinning Sex Change in Fish

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Laura Casas ◽  
Fran Saborido-Rey
Keyword(s):  
Regulatory Networks ◽  
Sex Change ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Environmental Cues ◽  
Morphological Transformation ◽  
Histological Changes ◽  
Molecular Events ◽  
Group A ◽  
Future Research Directions ◽  
Female Networks

Fishes are the only vertebrates that undergo sex change during their lifetime, but even within this group, a unique reproductive strategy is displayed by only 1.5% of the teleosts. This lability in alternating sexual fate is the result of the simultaneous suppression and activation of opposing male and female networks. Here, we provide a brief review summarizing recent advances in our understanding of the environmental cues that trigger sex change and their perception, integration, and translation into molecular cascades that convert the sex of an individual. We particularly focus on molecular events underpinning the complex behavioral and morphological transformation involved in sex change, dissecting the main molecular players and regulatory networks that shape the transformation of one sex into the opposite. We show that histological changes and molecular pathways governing gonadal reorganization are better described than the neuroendocrine basis of sex change and that, despite important advances, information is lacking for the majority of hermaphrodite species. We highlight significant gaps in our knowledge of how sex change takes place and suggest future research directions.

scholarly journals RNA-Seq Provides New Insights into the Molecular Events Involved in “Ball-Skin versus Bladder Effect” on Fruit Cracking in Litchi

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 454
Author(s):  
Jun Wang ◽  
Xiao Fang Wu ◽  
Yong Tang ◽  
Jian Guo Li ◽  
Ming Lei Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Plant Hormones ◽  
Fruit Development ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Lipid Synthesis ◽  
Expression Level ◽  
Agricultural Product ◽  
Rna Seq ◽  
Fruit Cracking ◽  
Molecular Events

Fruit cracking is a disorder of fruit development in response to internal or external cues, which causes a loss in the economic value of fruit. Therefore, exploring the mechanism underlying fruit cracking is of great significance to increase the economic yield of fruit trees. However, the molecular mechanism underlying fruit cracking is still poorly understood. Litchi, as an important tropical and subtropical fruit crop, contributes significantly to the gross agricultural product in Southeast Asia. One important agricultural concern in the litchi industry is that some famous varieties with high economic value such as ‘Nuomici’ are susceptible to fruit cracking. Here, the cracking-susceptible cultivar ‘Nuomici’ and cracking-resistant cultivar ‘Huaizhi’ were selected, and the samples including pericarp and aril during fruit development and cracking were collected for RNA-Seq analysis. Based on weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and the “ball-skin versus bladder effect” theory (fruit cracking occurs upon the aril expanding pressure exceeds the pericarp strength), it was found that seven co-expression modules genes (1733 candidate genes) were closely associated with fruit cracking in ‘Nuomici’. Importantly, we propose that the low expression level of genes related to plant hormones (Auxin, Gibberellins, Ethylene), transcription factors, calcium transport and signaling, and lipid synthesis might decrease the mechanical strength of pericarp in ‘Nuomici’, while high expression level of genes associated with plant hormones (Auxin and abscisic acid), transcription factors, starch/sucrose metabolism, and sugar/water transport might increase the aril expanding pressure, thereby resulting in fruit cracking in ‘Nuomici’. In conclusion, our results provide comprehensive molecular events involved in the “ball-skin versus bladder effect” on fruit cracking in litchi.

scholarly journals Selective Harvesting Robotics: Current Research, Trends, and Future Directions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gert Kootstra ◽  
Xin Wang ◽  
Pieter M. Blok ◽  
Jochen Hemming ◽  
Eldert van Henten
Keyword(s):  
Review Paper ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Research Directions ◽  
Selective Harvesting ◽  
Important Solution ◽  
Future Research Directions ◽  
Current Systems

Abstract Purpose of Review The world-wide demand for agricultural products is rapidly growing. However, despite the growing population, labor shortage becomes a limiting factor for agricultural production. Further automation of agriculture is an important solution to tackle these challenges. Recent Findings Selective harvesting of high-value crops, such as apples, tomatoes, and broccoli, is currently mainly performed by humans, rendering it one of the most labor-intensive and expensive agricultural tasks. This explains the large interest in the development of selective harvesting robots. Selective harvesting, however, is a challenging task for a robot, due to the high levels of variation and incomplete information, as well as safety. Summary This review paper provides an overview of the state of the art in selective harvesting robotics in three different production systems; greenhouse, orchard, and open field. The limitations of current systems are discussed, and future research directions are proposed.

scholarly journals Combined genomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses provide insights into chayote (Sechium edule) evolution and fruit development

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anzhen Fu ◽  
Qing Wang ◽  
Jianlou Mu ◽  
Lili Ma ◽  
Changlong Wen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Development ◽  
Repetitive Sequences ◽  
Genetic Research ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Agricultural Crop ◽  
Protein Coding ◽  
Third Generation Sequencing ◽  
Sechium Edule ◽  
Generation Sequencing ◽  
Cucurbitaceae Family

AbstractChayote (Sechium edule) is an agricultural crop in the Cucurbitaceae family that is rich in bioactive components. To enhance genetic research on chayote, we used Nanopore third-generation sequencing combined with Hi–C data to assemble a draft chayote genome. A chromosome-level assembly anchored on 14 chromosomes (N50 contig and scaffold sizes of 8.40 and 46.56 Mb, respectively) estimated the genome size as 606.42 Mb, which is large for the Cucurbitaceae, with 65.94% (401.08 Mb) of the genome comprising repetitive sequences; 28,237 protein-coding genes were predicted. Comparative genome analysis indicated that chayote and snake gourd diverged from sponge gourd and that a whole-genome duplication (WGD) event occurred in chayote at 25 ± 4 Mya. Transcriptional and metabolic analysis revealed genes involved in fruit texture, pigment, flavor, flavonoids, antioxidants, and plant hormones during chayote fruit development. The analysis of the genome, transcriptome, and metabolome provides insights into chayote evolution and lays the groundwork for future research on fruit and tuber development and genetic improvements in chayote.

scholarly journals How Much Is Enough? First Steps to a Social Ecology of the Pergamon Microregion

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 479
Author(s):  
Julian Laabs ◽  
Daniel Knitter
Keyword(s):  
Carrying Capacity ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Cultural Dynamics ◽  
Imperial Period ◽  
Self Sufficiency ◽  
Complementary Region ◽  
The City

In this study, we present a transparent and reproducible approach to model agricultural production with respect to environmental characteristics and available labour. Our research focuses on the city of Pergamon and its surroundings, with an emphasis on the transition between the Hellenistic and Roman Imperial Period, where widespread demographic changes took place. We investigated the degree of local self-sufficiency using different concepts of a city’s complementary region. Using simple topographic derivatives, we derive a measure of environmental suitability that we translate into a carrying capacity index. Our results show that workforce was not a limiting factor for local self-sufficiency. However, environmental carrying capacity may have been limiting in a scenario with a large population. An active investment into the environment, e.g., by the construction of terraces, could have helped to increase the degree of self-sufficiency. Future research should investigate the level of resilience of such a coupled socio-ecological system in relation to environmental and socio-cultural dynamics.

scholarly journals Transcriptomics of Improved Fruit Retention by Hexanal in ‘Honeycrisp’ Reveals Hormonal Crosstalk and Reduced Cell Wall Degradation in the Fruit Abscission Zone

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (16) ◽  
pp. 8830
Author(s):  
Karthika Sriskantharajah ◽  
Walid El Kayal ◽  
Davoud Torkamaneh ◽  
Murali M. Ayyanath ◽  
Praveen K. Saxena ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Ethylene Biosynthesis ◽  
Abscission Zone ◽  
Cell Wall Degrading Enzymes ◽  
Fruit Abscission ◽  
Fruit Drop ◽  
Expression Of Genes ◽  
Hormonal Crosstalk ◽  
Honeycrisp Apples ◽  
And Control

Apples (Malus domestica Borkh) are prone to preharvest fruit drop, which is more pronounced in ‘Honeycrisp’. Hexanal is known to improve fruit retention in several economically important crops. The effects of hexanal on the fruit retention of ‘Honeycrisp’ apples were assessed using physiological, biochemical, and transcriptomic approaches. Fruit retention and fruit firmness were significantly improved by hexanal, while sugars and fresh weight did not show a significant change in response to hexanal treatment. At commercial maturity, abscisic acid and melatonin levels were significantly lower in the treated fruit abscission zone (FAZ) compared to control. At this stage, a total of 726 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between treated and control FAZ. Functional classification of the DEGs showed that hexanal downregulated ethylene biosynthesis genes, such as S-adenosylmethionine synthase (SAM2) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidases (ACO3, ACO4, and ACO4-like), while it upregulated the receptor genes ETR2 and ERS1. Genes related to ABA biosynthesis (FDPS and CLE25) were also downregulated. On the contrary, key genes involved in gibberellic acid biosynthesis (GA20OX-like and KO) were upregulated. Further, hexanal downregulated the expression of genes related to cell wall degrading enzymes, such as polygalacturonase (PG1), glucanases (endo-β-1,4-glucanase), and expansins (EXPA1-like, EXPA6, EXPA8, EXPA10-like, EXPA16-like). Our findings reveal that hexanal reduced the sensitivity of FAZ cells to ethylene and ABA. Simultaneously, hexanal maintained the cell wall integrity of FAZ cells by regulating genes involved in cell wall modifications. Thus, delayed fruit abscission by hexanal is most likely achieved by minimizing ABA through an ethylene-dependent mechanism.

scholarly journals Fruit Abscission and Fruit Quality of Apples Following Use of Dicamba to Control Preharvest Drop

1990 ◽  
Vol 115 (3) ◽  
pp. 390-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard P. Marini ◽  
Ross E. Byers ◽  
Donald L. Sowers ◽  
Rodney W. Young
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Starch Content ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Naphthaleneacetic Acid ◽  
Soluble Solids Content ◽  
Fruit Abscission ◽  
Fruit Drop ◽  
Solids Content ◽  
Methoxybenzoic Acid

Five apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) cultivars were treated with dicamba at concentrations of 0 to 200 mg·liter-1 during 3 years. Although the response varied with cultivar, dose, and year, dicamba always delayed fruit abscission. At similar concentrations, dicamba usually reduced fruit drop more than NAA, but less than fenoprop. Dicamba at 10 mg·liter-1 effectively delayed drop of `Delicious', whereas 20 to 30 mg·liter-1 was required for `Red Yorking', `Rome', `Winesap', and `Stayman'. Dicamba did not influence flesh firmness, soluble solids content, water core, or starch content at harvest or after storage. Chemical names used: naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA); 2-(2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy)propionic acid (fenoprop); 3,6dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid (dicamba).

167 VISUALISATION OF FAT ACCUMULATION IN BOVINE PREANTRAL AND ANTRAL OOCYTES USING 2-PHOTON MICROSCOPY

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 186
Author(s):  
A. Langbeen ◽  
J. L. M. R. Leroy ◽  
I. Pintelon ◽  
P. E. J. Bols
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sections ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Nile Red ◽  
Fat Distribution ◽  
Enzymatic Digestion ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Excitation Wavelength ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Fat Accumulation ◽  
Preantral Follicles

Fat metabolism is important in oocyte development (Kim et al. 2001; Sturmey et al. 2009). Our main objective was to develop a straightforward method that allows us to describe fat distribution and quantify fat accumulation in bovine oocytes throughout folliculogenesis. Fat accumulation dynamics can be studied by making microscopically repeated cross-sections or Z-stacks through oocytes of different developmental stages. The most important limiting factor in oocyte 3D visualisation studies is the size of the oocyte (between 110 and 120 μm in diameter), making it impossible to visualise it as a whole. If visualisation of the bottommost hemisphere is desirable, overlying Z-stacks will disperse the excitation and emission light, creating artefacts that will distort the image and trouble the results (indicated by former unpublished results). Therefore, we investigated the use of an alternative visualisation protocol staining the oocytes with Nile Red as an intracellular, triglyceride-specific (when emission is captured at 590 nm), fluorescent dye (Greenspan et al. 1985; Leroy et al. 2005), this combined with 2-photon excitation technology. In total, ovaries from 10 cows were collected at slaughter. Ovaries were pooled per cow. Only cows with apparent follicular activity on both ovaries were selected. Antral follicles with a diameter of <3 mm, between 3 and 6 mm, and >6 mm were aspirated. Apart from oocytes collected from each of these 3 follicle classes, preantral follicles were harvested from ovarian cortex tissue through mechanical isolation and enzymatic digestion by collagenase type IA. In total, 3 oocytes per follicle class were collected for each pair of ovaries. They were fixed in 2% glutaraldehyde and 2% formaldehyde and stained with Nile Red (1 μg mL–1). After mounting, images were acquired with a Zeiss LSM 510 reversed 2-photon microscope (Carl Zeiss GmbH, Jena, Germany) using an excitation wavelength of 807 nm, with an emission spectrum covered between 580 and 591 nm. Our results show that even with biphoton excitation, it remains very difficult to visualise fat droplet distribution in >100-μm oocytes. However, accurate images can be obtained of the upper hemisphere of the oocyte. These images can be used in future research on the dynamics of the distribution and the accumulation of lipid. Preliminary descriptive results clearly show that the relative amount of lipid droplets is lower and their size is smaller in oocytes from preantral follicles compared with antral counterparts. We can preliminary conclude that fat accumulation and the aggregation in fat droplets might take place preceding or even during antral development. We can visualise preantral oocytes as a whole in contrast to antral oocytes where only the upper hemisphere is visible without distortions. Image analysis software is currently applied to allow for a more quantitative interpretation. D. De Rijck.

scholarly journals The genome and transcriptome analysis of snake gourd provide insights into its evolution and fruit development and ripening

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lili Ma ◽  
Qing Wang ◽  
Jianlou Mu ◽  
Anzhen Fu ◽  
Changlong Wen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genome Assembly ◽  
Transcriptome Analysis ◽  
Fruit Development ◽  
Repetitive Sequences ◽  
Genetic Research ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Comparative Genomic ◽  
Crop Species ◽  
Total Size ◽  
Fruit Development And Ripening

AbstractSnake gourd (Trichosanthes anguina L.), which belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family, is a popular ornamental and food crop species with medicinal value and is grown in many parts of the world. Although progress has been made in its genetic improvement, the organization, composition, and evolution of the snake gourd genome remain largely unknown. Here, we report a high-quality genome assembly for snake gourd, comprising 202 contigs, with a total size of 919.8 Mb and an N50 size of 20.1 Mb. These findings indicate that snake gourd has one of the largest genomes of Cucurbitaceae species sequenced to date. The snake gourd genome assembly harbors 22,874 protein-coding genes and 80.0% of the genome consists of repetitive sequences. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that snake gourd is closely related to sponge gourd but diverged from their common ancestor ~33–47 million years ago. The genome sequence reported here serves as a valuable resource for snake gourd genetic research and comparative genomic studies in Cucurbitaceae and other plant species. In addition, fruit transcriptome analysis reveals the candidate genes related to quality traits during snake gourd fruit development and provides a basis for future research on snake gourd fruit development and ripening at the transcript level.

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