Naturally impaired side-chain shortening of aromatic 3-ketoacyl-CoAs reveals the biosynthetic pathway of plant acetophenones.

Acetophenones, which show scattered distribution across phylogenetically distant plants and fungi, play diverse roles in plant-plant, plant-insect, plant-microbiome and even animal-insect interactions. However, the enzymatic basis of acetophenone biosynthesis in plants remains unknown. Here we elucidate the complete biosynthetic pathway of picein (4-hydroxyacetophenone glucoside) from 4-coumaroyl-CoA using pear (Pyrus) as a study system.

hosting Phytophthora pluvialis RNA virus 1 shows morphological changes and hypervirulence to needles.

Phytophthora species infect a wide range of plants causing major economic and ecosystem impacts. , causal pathogen of red needle cast (RNC) disease of , hosts Phytophthora pluvialis RNA virus 1 (PplRV1). All tested isolates contained PplRV1.

Correction: The fate of mamaku gum in the gut: effect on gastrointestinal function and colon fermentation by human faecal microbiota.

Correction for 'The fate of mamaku gum in the gut: effect on gastrointestinal function and colon fermentation by human faecal microbiota' by Akshay Bisht , , 2023, , 7024-7039, https://doi.org/10.1039/D3FO01665J.

Induced swimming reduced stress and modulated immune response and antioxidant status in juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

Promoting swimming in aquaculture has been proposed to enhance fish welfare. This study investigated the effects of 6 h of swimming on stress, immune, metabolic, and antioxidant status of juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Fish (n = 8) were individually subjected to one of four experimental conditions: minimal water flow (control, < 0.

The Effect of Apple and Pear Cultivars on In Vitro Fermentation with Human Faecal Microbiota.

Apples and pears are among the most popular and frequently consumed fruits worldwide. The polyphenol and dietary fibre components of these fruits are known to influence the gut microbiota and the subsequent human health outcomes. This study investigated the effects of New Zealand grown apples and pears with differing polyphenol contents on the structure and function of the human gut microbiota.

Development of a Real-Time PCR Assay to Detect the Kiwifruit Pathogen .

is a significant kiwifruit canker pathogen reported from kiwifruit-growing areas in Asia and South America. To improve the diagnostic capability for this bacterium, a probe-based real-time PCR assay was developed for sensitive and fast detection of . The highly specific assay targets the meta-pathway phenol degradation protein-like locus, unique to .

Geobotanical Study, DNA Barcoding, and Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) Marker Analysis to Determine the Population Structure and Genetic Diversity of Rare and Endangered L.

The ongoing genetic erosion of natural populations in their native habitats underscores the urgent need for targeted conservation and restoration strategies. This study provides the first comprehensive characterization of populations in the Almaty region of Kazakhstan, integrating morphological descriptors (46 parameters), molecular markers, geobotanical, and remote sensing analyses. Geobotanical and remote sensing analyses enhanced understanding of accession distribution, geological features, and ecosystem health across sites, while also revealing their vulnerability to various biotic and abiotic threats.

Optimizing Nitrogen Fertilizer Rate and Investigating Mechanism Driving Grain Yield Increase for Rice in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River.

Investigating the factors influencing rice grain yield (GY) is critical for optimizing nitrogen (N) management and enhancing resource use efficiency in rice cultivation. However, few studies have comprehensively investigated the factors affecting rice GY, considering an entire influence chain encompassing rice N uptake, growth indicators, and GY components. In this study, field experiment with six different N fertilizer rates (0, 60, 120, 180, 225, and 300 kg N ha, i.

Chromosome-level genome assembly and annotation of Petunia hybrida.

Petunia hybrida is the world's most popular garden plant and is regarded as a supermodel for studying the biology associated with the Asterid clade, the largest of the two major groups of flowering plants. Unlike other Solanaceae, petunia has a base chromosome number of seven, not 12. This along with recombination suppression has previously hindered efforts to assemble its genome to chromosome level.

AcABI5a integrates abscisic acid signaling to developmentally modulate fruit ascorbic acid biosynthesis in kiwifruit.

Consumers value highly the nutritional content and flavor of fresh fruits, which are influenced by endogenous plant hormones. However, the molecular mechanisms governing the hormonal regulation of essential nutrients such as ascorbic acid (AsA) in fruit are still unclear. This study investigates the regulation of AsA synthesis in kiwifruit by the transcription factor AcABI5a, which is involved in mediating the abscisic acid (ABA) signal.

Straw and Green Manure Return Can Improve Soil Fertility and Rice Yield in Long-Term Cultivation Paddy Fields with High Initial Organic Matter Content.

Returning straw and green manure to the field is a vital agronomic practice for improving crop yields and ensuring food security. However, the existing research primarily focuses on drylands and low-fertility paddy fields. A systematic discussion of the yield-increasing mechanisms and soil response patterns of medium- and long-term organic fertilization in subtropical, high-organic-matter paddy fields is lacking.

Transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling of the potato plant response to zebra chip disease.

Zebra chip disease of potato is caused by a bacterial pathogen, 'Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum', vectored by the tomato potato psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli Sulc.). The plant response to the disease was explored using a combined transcriptomic and metabolomic approach.

The aldehyde (ALD) locus controls C6-aldehyde production in kiwifruit and affects consumer perception of fruit aroma.

Volatile C6-aldehydes contribute green/grassy notes to the aroma of many unripe fruits. C6-aldehydes are also likely important contributors to flavor intensity in fruits that remain green when ripe, including green-fleshed kiwifruit (Actinidia spp.).

Editorial for the Gut Microbiota Section.

The gut microbiota-a diverse and dynamic consortium of trillions of microorganisms inhabiting the gastrointestinal tract-plays a pivotal role in host health across species [...

Developing a food list for a new 24-h dietary recall tool for New Zealand.

Aim: A 24-h dietary recall is commonly used in national nutrition surveys to assess population diets. Intake24, an automated United Kingdom tool, was selected and modified for use in New Zealand in 2023. This study aimed to develop a local food list for Intake24-New Zealand.

Correction: Nadarajan et al. Development, Management and Utilization of a Kiwifruit ( spp.) In Vitro Collection: A New Zealand Perspective. 2023, , 2009.

In the original publication [...

Ectopic expression of strawberry FaMADS6 represses anthocyanin biosynthesis in both tobacco and Arabidopsis thaliana.

Anthocyanins are important secondary metabolism phytochemicals that contribute to health, quality, and plant stress resistance. The class B MADS-box gene family is fundamental for floral organ development across different species. In this study, we reveal a novel function of the strawberry PISTILLATA homologue FaMADS6, in N.

Sensing Disease in Apple Trees: Potential Signature Compounds for European Canker () Infection.

is the fungal cause of costly European Canker (EC) in apple trees. A range of secondary metabolites were found at higher concentrations in infected twigs than in disease free twigs. Apple trees were then experimentally inoculated with and analyzed periodically until EC symptoms were visible at 12-13 weeks post-inoculation.

Geobotanical Study and Preservation of Rare and Endangered Rosaceae Species.

The loss of plant species, especially endangered and endemic ones, poses a significant threat to global biodiversity. These species cannot easily be replaced when their populations decline or become extinct, which makes their loss particularly devastating. This study focuses on the geobotanical study of nine Rosaceae species (, , , , , , , , and ) and the development of ex situ approaches for the conservation of Rosaceae species listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan.

Simple and Efficient Transformation and Gene Editing of Marchantia polymorpha Spores.

Marchantia polymorpha (Marchantia) has become a model species for liverwort studies, owing to its rapid growth in vitro, ease of propagation, simple genetics, small genome, haploid-dominant life cycle, and because it is amenable to genetic transformation. Efficient transformation provides a foundation for many molecular and genetic analyses. The protocol described here is a simple and robust procedure for transforming Marchantia for a variety of applications, including gene overexpression and CRISPR genome editing.

Multi-omics analyses unveil dual genetic loci governing four distinct watermelon flesh color phenotypes.

Watermelon fruit flesh displays various colors. Although genetic loci underlying these variations are identified, the molecular mechanism remains elusive. Here, we assembled a chromosome-scale reference genome of an elite watermelon and developed integrated genetic maps using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and structural variation markers.

Protection of naringenin chalcone by a pathogenesis-related 10 protein promotes flavonoid biosynthesis in Marchantia polymorpha.

Pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins are diverse stress- or pathogen-induced proteins. Some are associated with specialised metabolism, including proposed functions for anthocyanin biosynthesis. However, data are limited to a few angiosperm species, and the mode(s) of action are uncertain.

Assessment of Stress and Immune Gene Expression in Australasian Snapper () Exposed to Chronic Temperature Change.

Snapper is a significant commercial, recreational, and cultural teleost species in New Zealand, with aquaculture potential. The impact of long-term (chronic) temperature changes on immune and stress responses have not been studied in snapper, yet they have a critical importance to the health status of the fish. We investigated a set of genes in 30 individual snapper including fin, head kidney, and liver tissue, fish (10 per group) were exposed to either warm (22 °C), cold (14 °C), or ambient temperatures (10.

Observations on iNaturalist reveal the establishment of non-native Eucalyptus weevil Gonipterus platensis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Tamil Nadu, India.

We report the establishment of the invasive eucalyptus weevil Gonipterus platensis in the high elevation Nilgiri Plateau in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Its presence was first brought to light by observations uploaded on iNaturalist, a citizen science platform, from Eucalyptus globulus plantations. Specimens collected from the plantations were examined morphologically and dissected to reveal the diagnostic characters of G.

Pan-genome analysis reveals the evolution and diversity of Malus.

Malus Mill., a genus of temperate perennial trees with great agricultural and ecological value, has diversified through hybridization, polyploidy and environmental adaptation. Limited genomic resources for wild Malus species have hindered the understanding of their evolutionary history and genetic diversity.