Cyclovirobuxine D Induced-Mitophagy through the p65/BNIP3/LC3 Axis Potentiates Its Apoptosis-Inducing Effects in Lung Cancer Cells

Mitophagy plays a pro-survival or pro-death role that is cellular-context- and stress-condition-dependent. In this study, we revealed that cyclovirobuxine D (CVB-D), a natural compound derived from Buxus microphylla, was able to provoke mitophagy in lung cancer cells. CVB-D-induced mitophagy potentiates apoptosis by promoting mitochondrial dysfunction. Mechanistically, CVB-D initiates mitophagy by enhancing the expression of the mitophagy receptor BNIP3 and strengthening its interaction with LC3 to provoke mitophagy. Our results further showed that p65, a transcriptional suppressor of BNIP3, is downregulated upon CVB-D treatment. The ectopic expression of p65 inhibits BNIP3 expression, while its knockdown significantly abolishes its transcriptional repression on BNIP3 upon CVB-D treatment. Importantly, nude mice bearing subcutaneous xenograft tumors presented retarded growth upon CVB-D treatment. Overall, we demonstrated that CVB-D treatment can provoke mitophagy and further revealed that the p65/BNIP3/LC3 axis is one potential mechanism involved in CVB-D-induced mitophagy in lung cancer cells, thus providing an effective antitumor therapeutic strategy for the treatment of lung cancer patients

Fertilizer placement effects on eclipta (Eclipta prostrata) growth and competition with container-grown ornamentals

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of fertilizer placement on the growth of eclipta [Eclipta prostrata (L.) L.] and evaluate its interference with container-grown ornamental plants, including Japanese boxwood (Buxus microphylla Siebold & Zucc.) and ligustrum (Ligustrum lucidum W.T. Aiton). Results indicated that subdressing reduced E. prostrata shoot weight by 28%, 42%, and 46% at depths of 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 cm, respectively, in comparison with a topdressed fertilizer treatment (a standard industry practice). Presence of E. prostrata reduced the growth of both ornamental species. Ligustrum shoot weight decreased as subdressing depth increased, while boxwood growth was most notably reduced at the 7.5-cm depth in comparison with topdressed containers. Overall, results indicated that subdressing may be an effective weed management strategy, but subdressing depth needs to be based on initial liner size to prevent possibly delays in production time.

A new species of Amystax Roelofs, 1873 endemic to the mountainous area of the Yakushima World Natural Heritage site, Kyushu, Japan

Amystax urara Kojima and Yôro, sp. nov. is described from the mountainous area of the Yakushima World Natural Heritage island, Kyushu, southwestern Japan. Adult weevils were captured on leaves of Pieris japonica var. yakushimensis and Buxus microphylla var. japonica (Ericaceae and Buxaceae, respectively). This is the second species of this genus known from the island.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions from an Ornamental Crop as Impacted by Two Best Management Practices: Irrigation Delivery and Fertilizer Placement1

Agriculture is one of the largest contributors of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. To date, much work on reducing GHG emissions has centered on row crops, pastures, forestry, and animal production systems, while little emphasis has been placed on specialty crop industries such as horticulture. In this horticulture container study, Japanese boxwood (Buxus microphylla Siebold & Zucc.) was used to evaluate the interaction of irrigation (overhead vs drip) and fertilizer placement (dibble vs incorporated) on GHG emissions (CO2, N2O, and CH4). Plants were grown in 11.4 L (#3) containers with a 6:1 pine bark:sand substrate with standard amendments. All containers received 6.35 mm (0.25 in) water three times daily. Gas samples were collected in situ using the static closed chamber method according to standard protocols and analyzed using gas chromatography. Total cumulative CO2 loss was not affected by differences in irrigation or fertilizer placement. Total cumulative N2O efflux was least for drip-irrigated plants, regardless of fertilizer placement. For overhead-irrigated plants, N2O efflux was greatest for those with incorporated fertilizer. Efflux of CH4 was generally low throughout the study. Findings suggest that utilizing drip irrigation could decrease N2O emissions, regardless of fertilizer placement. However, when limited to overhead irrigation, dibbled fertilizer placement could decrease N2O emissions. Index words: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, trace gas Species used in this study: Japanese boxwood (Buxus microphylla Siebold & Zucc.)

Comparison of Three Production Scenarios for Buxus microphylla var. japonica ‘Green Beauty’ Marketed in a No. 3 Container on the West Coast Using Life Cycle Assessment

Three scenarios for production of Buxus microphylla var. japonica [(Mull. Arg.) Rehder & E.H. Wilson] ‘Green Beauty’ marketed in a no. 3 container on the west coast of the United States were modeled based on grower interviews and best management practices. Life cycle inventories (LCIs) of input products, equipment use, and labor were developed from the protocols for those scenarios and a life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted to determine impact of individual components on the greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and the subsequent carbon footprint (CF) of the product at the nursery gate and in the landscape. CF is expressed in global warming potential (GWP) for a 100-year period in units of kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalents (kg CO2e). The GWP of the plant from Scenario A (propagation to no. 1 to 3 container) was 2.198 kg CO2e with variable costs of $4.043. Scenario B (propagation to field to no. 3 container) would result in a GWP of 1.717 kg CO2e with variable costs of $2.880 and take a year longer in production than the other two models. The GWP of Scenario C (propagation to no. 1 to no. 2 to no. 3 containers) would be 3.364 kg CO2e with variable costs of $5.733. Containers, transplants/transplanting, irrigation, and fertilization input products and associated activities accounted for the greatest portion of GHG and variable costs in each scenario. Pruning, assembling/load trucks, pesticides, and chlorination were other important components to variable costs of each scenario but had little impact on GWP. Otherwise, the major contributors to GWP are also major contributors to cost.